FAQ's


What is 4D Photo Imaging?

4D Photo Imaging™ combines the capabilities and benefits of photography with the image file management and reporting capabilties found in medical imaging or document image management systems.

Advances in digital camera technology makes it simple for anyone to quickly take pictures. In fact, picture taking technology is showing up in devices like cell phones, MP3 players, and tablet computers. Unfortunately, taking a picture is just the start when it comes to having a fast and efficient clinical workflow. The consumer orientied digital picture software that comes with most cameras does not address the unique requirements you will face in using photo imaging in your healthcare environment.

There are however, expensive and elaborate image archival and retrieval systems called either Picture Archival and Communications (PACS) systems or Document Image Management (DIM) system. In healthcare markets, PACS systems are designed to handle the complex visual data formats created by digital Xray, and CT,  MRI, and PET scanner. Their costs can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars to implement and require dedicated IT support for data storage and networking. In commercial markets, DIM systems are designed to capture not only photo data, but also all kinds of business documents and files. While DIM systems offer a broad range of functionality, if you need a simple and cost effective system to make sense of your visual data, like PACS systems, DIM systems can be expense to purchase and maintain.

4D Photo Imaging brings the basis organizational, archival, and retrieval capabilites of PACS and DIM systems into a simplied, easy to deploy solution targeted at digital photo imaging. Contact us to find out more about how we can simplify your photo documentation workflows.

 

What things should I consider when trying to setup my Photo Imaging Workflow?

There are several things to consider when establishing a photography workflow. To begin, you should be able the answer some basic questions, including:

  • How many cameras will be used?
  • Will a single camera be used by one person or multiple people?
  • Will you capture photo images for a single patient and then process / load those photo images before moving on to the next patient? Or will photo images of multiple patients be captured before performing the processing and loading?
  • Will the photo image processing be done at a single, center workstation? Or will each person taking photo images have access to their own computer while taking the photo images.
  • What information is critical to be associated with the photo images? Do these include any measurements?
  • What sorts of procedures will be documented using photo images and have you standardized the steps / views you desire to be captured using photo images?

These are just a few of the things you need to consider when creating a standardized photo imaging workflow.

What if I need to take Photo Images of a patient who visits more than one office location?

Photo images can be stored on a shared on a networked file server or even up in the cloud to enable sharing across multiple locations.

Is a dedicated "Photography Room" required in my practice?

Whether you are using the PhotoStation Manager software or the PhotoStation System, you do not need a dedicated photography room. The PhotoStation Manager makes it easy to use off-the-shelf digital cameras to shoot medical photo documentation in any of your patient examination rooms for upload later into the PhotoStation Manager system. With the all-inclusive 4D PhotoStation System, you can move the camera system from room to room and take consistent high quality photo images. The PhotoStation System allows for the setup of camera settings files for each room in which pictures will be taken. Before capturing new photo images, select and load the predefined settings and take great pictures.

Don't I need to be trained as an amateur photographer to get consistent, decent looking Photo Images?

While taking consistent high quality photo images requires more than pointing your camera and pressing the shutter release button, you don't need to be an expert in photography to get the job done.

Many digital cameras include options that make it easy to take pictures in a variety of situations. While most cameras have a sports mode, or fireworks mode, unfortunately no camera we've seen has a 'consistent high quality medical photo image' mode.

By understanding the four key ideas of shutter speed, aperture, white balance, and ISO level, you can take high quality photo images at your facility without becoming a photo expert.

What versions of Windows® does the PhotoStation Manager support?

All three PhotoStation Manager Editions can work on the following versions of Microsoft Windows®:

  • Microsoft Windows® XP

  • Microsoft Windows Vista®

  • Microsoft Windows 7®

Does the PhotoStation Manager really work with any Digital Camera?

The PhotoStation Manager does import photo images from any camera available on the market today.

The PhotoStation Manager will import any JPEG compressed photo image, and as well can import photo images in TIFF and BMP formats.

In the future, additional non-standard photo formats will be supported by the PhotoStation Manager.

What are the software license options available for the PhotoStation Manager software?

The PhotoStation Manager is available in an unlimited, single CPU license and in a monthly service license.

With the unlimited single CPU license, you pay a single fee for a license to one of the three PhotoStation Manager software Editions, and you have the unlimited use of that software. Included in the purchase price of the software is a one year technical support and update service which provides you with the assurance that if you have technical issues with tuning your photography workflow while using our software, you can get the help you need. After the first year, you can extend your technical support and update service by paying an additional annual service fee.

With the monthly service option, you are provided with use of one of the three PhotoStation Manager software Editions on a single CPU, but you can cancel the service with 30 days notice. As long as you continue with your service license plan, you will be provided with technical support and software update services.

Is the PhotoStation Manager Software compatible with the Eye-Fi wireless photo uplod card?

All Editions of the PhotoStation Manager solution are compatible with the Eye-Fi wireless solution. The Eye-Fi solution enables any digital camera to wirelessly upload photos to your computer running the PhotoStation Manager software.

 PhotoStation Manager Compatibility with Eye-Fi

It is easy to configure the Eye-Fi wireless upload card to work with the PhotoStation Manager. In the Eye-Fi Center, you can configure the name and upload destination of your Eye-Fi card. If you have a single camera for shooting photo images, configure an Eye-Fi upload destination location in a folder on your desktop or in your MyPhotos folder. Just load photo images from the folder location you set up in the Eye-Fi Center to import into the PhotoStation Manager.

For more information about Eye-Fi products, go to www.eye.fi.

Why should I select the Loader Edition Software product?

The PhotoStation Manager Essentials automates the process of sorting and organizing photo images according to your patient ID.

Choose the PhotoStation Manager Loader Edition if you want to:

  • use a single camera to shoot photo images of multiple patient before loading into the computer.
  • use multiple cameras and want to have a standardized process and workflow for organizing your photo images.
  • be able to search for all photo images for a single patient using the patient ID.
  • see all photo images taken of a single patient sorted by data of patient encounter.
  • elminate printing hardcopy outputs of photo image for insertion in the patient record.
  • are worried about how to handle getting your photo images into your current or planned for EMR system.

How much does the Loader Edition Cost?

The PhotoStation Manager Loader Edition is our entry level product offering. You can purchase the a single CPU license for for $1,295. This allows you to Capture and Organize photo images from one or more digital cameras one a single computer system.

Why should I select the Essentials Edition software product?

The PhotoStation Manager Essentials automates the process of sorting and organizing photo images according to your patient ID and creating report outputs including before and afters.

Choose the PhotoStation Manager Essentials Edition if you want to:

  • use all the features of the PhotoStation Manager Loader Edition.
  • keep track of information related to your patient encounter and have that information be part of an report output.
  • keep track of information related to each photo image and have that information be part of an report output.
  • create before and after output reports with 2 or 3 views shown on a single page
  • create a zoom detail showiing a particular feature for patient home monitoring
  • create a gallery of all photo images to document a procedure pre-op, during-op, and post-op
  • create reports with your clinic details and key clinical information without having to hand write notes on a photo printout.

How much does the Essentials Edition Cost?

The PhotoStation Manager Essentials Edition is our step up product offering. You can purchase the a single CPU license for for $2,495. This allows you to Capture and Organize photo images from one or more digital cameras, and create customizable photo image report outputs on a single computer system.

Why should I select the Enhancer Edition software product?

The PhotoStation Manager Enhancer Edition automates the process of sorting and organizing photo images according to your patient ID, creating report outputs including before and afters, and taking digital measurements of features in the photo image.

Choose the PhotoStation Manager Enhancer Edition if you want to:

  • use all the features of the PhotoStation Manager Essentials Edition.
  • annotate photo images with text or graphical notations in the photo image.
  • digital measure features with a high level of accuracy for change tracking or reimbursements.
  • create report outputs that additionally include measurement output details.

How much does the Enhancer Edition Cost?

The PhotoStation Manager Enhancer Edition is our top of the line product offering. You can purchase the a single CPU license for for $3,995. This allows you to Capture, Organize, and Enhance photo images from one or more digital cameras, and create customizable photo image report outputs on a single computer system.

Why should I select the 4D PhotoStation System all-inclusive product?

The 4D PhotoStation System ...

Choose the the 4D PhotoStation System if you want to:

  • have a complete system that includes all components needed to shoot consistent, high quality photo images.
  • easily position your camera for repeating the same shot over time while having your hands free to enter notational data and control the shooting process using your computer.

How much does the 4D PhotoStation System cost?

The 4D PhotoStation System comes in two configurations.

The base 4D PhotoStation System includes the PhotoStation Manager Essentials Edition software. The system is priced at $8,495.00.

The step up 4D PhotoStation System includes the PhotoStation Manager Enhancer Edition software. The system is priced at $9,995.00.

The 4D PhotoStation System includes a one year warranty, technical support, and software updates.