For radiology groups like Wake Radiology UNC REX in Raleigh, North Carolina, differentiation is essential. To meet their goal of providing valuable services to both physicians and patients, radiologists must efficiently read and report an ever-growing number of complex studies and images.
Wake Radiology began exploring the possibility of augmenting their radiologists by adding new AI algorithms to their existing platform with Blackford – and the results quickly exceeded expectation.
Investigating how to advance neuroradiology services through AI
As part of its radiology service offering for a prominent neurology group that manages patients with diseases such as dementia, Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis, Wake Radiology’s neuroradiology team needs to provide specific data critical for those specialized reads and reports.
With such a wealth of data to be incorporated in their reports, Wake Radiology was interested in exploring the use of AI to make reporting more efficient, and to enhance physician and patient communications by providing an even higher level of service through improved reporting of neurodegenerative diseases.
Deploying the Blackford Platform
Wake Radiology was already familiar with the Blackford Platform, which it had deployed for image co-registration via their PACS in 2019. When their PACS provider approached them about expanding that platform to incorporate additional AI tools, Chief Information Officer, Wake Radiology, Matt Dewey immediately began evaluating how AI could add value to their practice by increasing efficiency and further advancing their services.
"Our radiologists had been using Blackford image co-registration for years and had gone so far as to call it a game-changer. Given our existing relationship with Blackford through our PACS provider, we trusted they could help us easily expand our use of AI applications."
Matt Dewey
CIO, Wake Radiology
Assessing AI impact with thorough real-world evaluation
Once Wake Radiology had identified the AI solution they wanted to evaluate – Cortechs.ai’s NeuroQuant, chosen for its sophisticated reporting of multiple sclerosis, dementia and other neurodegenerative studies – Blackford coordinated its deployment in the Wake Radiology environment, allowing them to evaluate the application on their own data.
This was a joint effort between Wake Radiology, Cortechs.ai, Wake’s referring neurology group and Wake Radiology’s PACS provider, all orchestrated by Blackford.
"Blackford seamlessly organized and coordinated the work across five solution and healthcare providers, which is remarkable. We were incredibly happy with our choice in Blackford and Cortechs.ai."
Matt Dewey
CIO, Wake Radiology
The value of AI: improved treatment planning and communication
Using NeuroQuant, Wake Radiology was able to immediately provide more detailed information in neurodegenerative disease study reports, improving the referring physicians’ ability to plan treatment and communicate with their patients.
Following this successful deployment, Wake Radiology and Blackford are continuing to work together to understand where AI can continue to address efficiency and workflow problems, and provide value for the imaging center, its referring groups and the patients they all serve.
"Cortechs.ai running on the Blackford Platform has helped us realize the ongoing value of AI. The advanced neuroradiology service and detailed reports we can provide our neurology partners allows them to better plan treatment for neurodegenerative diseases with their patients."
Matt Dewey
CIO, Wake Radiology
Wake Radiology UNC REX, the largest outpatient imaging provider in The Triangle-Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, has been in practice for nearly 70 years and is the oldest and largest outpatient imaging provider in the Triangle. Its 50+ radiologists are organized in comprehensive subspecialized teams such as breast imaging, sports and orthopedic imaging, interventional radiology and vein therapy, neuroradiology, pediatric imaging, and chest and abdominal imaging. Wake Radiology’s 14 outpatient imaging locations serve the Triangle community to deliver quality, convenient, and value-driven outpatient imaging.
Cortechs.ai is the leader in radiology AI applications, using cutting-edge advances in medical imaging to revolutionize disease screening and early detection so patients can enjoy longer, better lives. The company develops and markets breakthrough medical device software that quantifies and tracks neurodegenerative diseases and assists in the detection of clinically significant cancer.
