Olympus Unveils New Pathology Interface to Enhance Endoscopy Diagnostic Quality and Workflow

Olympus’ new EndoWorks 7.4¹ interface offers endoscopy providers an automated pathology solution, helping clinicians simplify and expedite the pathology requisition and report retrieval process.

“As a global endoscopy leader, Olympus is focused on maximizing the effectiveness and efficiency of endoscopic observation, diagnosis and treatment on behalf of physicians worldwide," commented Rick Harbuck, Group Vice President for Olympus America’s Medical Systems Group. “We are pleased to collaborate with this high-quality diagnostic partner to better streamline the process of lab results delivery. Our goal in this partnership is an enhanced level of patient care.”

The EndoWorks interface allows clinicians to generate specimen labels, view and print daily specimen logs, electronically access status and diagnostic reports, smoothly update patient reports, search by patient, print requisitions and lab results, and interface pathology records with the EndoWorks system. In addition, the interface allows for automatic attachment of essential procedure data and summary notes, allowing the pathologist to see a more comprehensive picture of the patient’s condition for a more specific diagnosis.

¹ Some earlier versions of Olympus EndoWorks can be upgraded via a patch to use the pathology interface.

Image Management

Reliably capturing and instantly accessing patient data, clinical exam data, and endoscopic video acquired before, during, and after a procedure is no longer a challenge with Olympus' image management. This integrated endoscopic management software is specifically designed to help reduce costs and save time while increasing productivity. Image management maximizes information access and provides the physician the capability to digitally capture, label, and store clinical images and video clips for further evaluation or diagnosis. These features and many more make it an excellent tool for increasing the efficiency of your lab while improving the quality of patient care.

Product features include:

• Track patient encounter status via color-coded grid
• Capture and store high-definition (HD) images and video clips for optimal clinical assessment
• View live image on computer monitor
• View current and previous exam images side-by-side for comparison
• Label, annotate, and enhance images
• Generate standard and customized management reports
• Automated patient recall letter generation
• Generate referral letters, pathology requests and discharge instructions
• Automated document distribution via e-mail and/or fax

Advanced Reporting

Meet all your GI and/or Pulmonary documentation needs with the Advanced Reporting system. An easy-to-use interface facilitates quick comprehensive report/letter generation for all aspects of the endoscopic procedure. Utilize a detailed clinical knowledge base for all procedure types to generate comprehensive reports and letters through simple keyword selection. Clinical terminology can be customized to meet user needs and minimize time to generate text. All this and more make EndoWorks the ideal automated reporting system for reducing dictation costs while maximizing your productivity.

Product features include:

• Template-based procedure reports customized at the user or facility level
• Intuitive keyword interface engine and extensive clinical knowledgebase (based on MST)
• Create physician, nurse, pathology, and patient reports/letters
• Distribute reports and letters via fax or e-mail notification
• Import scanned documents and export PDF exam files
• Capture clinical data across all stages of patient care
• Track time-based vital signs and medications
• Record visit and exam times
• Manage scope, accessory, and other equipment usage during an exam
• Manage and track pathology specimens

Interfaces

Maximize your productivity by automating visual and text data exchange between multiple information systems and EndoWorks. HL7 and/or DICOM interfaces can be seamlessly integrated with other information systems to facilitate data and image transfer, thereby reducing manual data entry and saving you valuable time. Interface communication exists with any information system conforming to the HL7 and/or DICOM standard. HL7 and/or DICOM interface allows information to be imported and/or exported in real time. Gateways are an ideal addition to the EndoWorks system for saving time and increasing efficiency in securely maintaining patient information.

Product features include:

• Integrates seamlessly with EndoWorks^® application
• Interfaces with any information system or EMR conforming to HL7 and/or DICOM standard
• Supports Inbound data transfer including ADT, Scheduling and Orders
• Supports Outbound Results transfer and images. Report transfer in PDF format available
• Transfers in real time
• Enables EndoWorks to produce, store, display, process, send, retrieve, query, or print medical images and derived structural documents from any Picture Archiving and Communication System conforming to DICOM standard

Security

Basic Security
With basic security, the EndoWorks server validates the user ID and password with those assigned in the EndoWorks database. This user account information, defined via the User Maintenance screen, is managed by the local EndoWorks system administrator.

Product features include:

• Stores data covered under HIPAA
• Validates the user ID and password with those assigned in the EndoWorks database.
• User account information, defined via the User Maintenance screen, is managed by the local EndoWorks system administrator.
• Supports automatic log offs
• Logs user access to all sections of application and stores in database (with admin access to information).
• Local administrator can change EndoWorks application security based on user’s role

Advanced Security

With advanced security, the user is authenticated by comparing the user ID and password with the user information stored in an internal or external repository on the CA Inc.’s eTrust™ Embedded Identity and Access Management server. The administrator continues to maintain the user account in EndoWorks. The information defined in EndoWorks is shared with either the internal or external repository. If the EndoWorks system is configured for internal advanced security, the administrator has read/write privileges to manage the user's profile; if configured for external advanced security, the administrator is granted "read" privileges only and cannot change the user's profile.

Product features include:

• Supports Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) and Active Directory interfaces
• Users are authenticated by comparing the user ID and password with the user information stored in an internal or external repository on the CA Inc.’s eTrust Embedded Identity and Access Management server
• User accounts can be maintained in EndoWorks by administrator and shared with either the internal or external repository
• If configured for internal advanced security, the administrator has read/write privileges to manage the user’s profile
• If configured for external advanced security, the administrator is granted "read" privileges only and cannot change the user's profile.
• Supports strong password rules (e.g., min length, numeric characters, max repeating characters, password re-use prevention, password expiration with warnings, and lockout after a configurable number of failed logins — according to CA Inc.’s eTrust Toolkit).

IT Specifications

The Olympus EndoWorks System offers a comprehensive, integrated software and hardware solution. The system incorporates hardware with the latest technology to efficiently process application needs, meet expansion requirements and maximize uptime. The Olympus-supplied software and hardware are fully-integrated, tested, installed, and serviced.

All hardware components include a 3-year parts warranty. Service coverage included under maintenance agreement.

The EndoWorks IT Specifications document is available for download.