$100,000 Incentive For Ocular Imaging Software Design

An incentive programme has been set up in the United States as new developments in ocular imaging software packages are sought to help improve the way that health services dealing with optics can work. The main focus is to better integrate common functionalities between patients record management and ophthalmic imaging devices. The reasoning behind such a move is due to the lack of credible, stable and highly functioning options available on the market for eye specialists, leaving many to err on the side of caution and not take the technological steps that health departments are looking for. The other issue of concern is backwards compatibility with older models.

The $100,000 first prize will be granted to the software project or system that addresses common inadequacies in current optics software options as well as looking to offer new more forward thinking ways of using the physical devices and technologies that are currently available and harnessing their power. The Ocular Imaging Challenge as it has been dubbed, is being funded by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. Runners up will also be looking at rewards of $35,000 and $15,000.

Main problems that have been identified and require improving:

• Digital Imaging and Communications In Medicine standards are available for imaging devices, but most devices do not comply with them, leaving the industry without a standard for which to work with.
• Without standards for software integration, many systems offer data entry inconsistencies and are known to have interoperability issues with multiple manufacturers equipment.
• Inefficient archiving and logging of ophthalmic images and patient information.

What are the outlines required for new projects?

• "The applications should be capable of converting the output of legacy devices from proprietary formats into vendor-neutral standard formats."
• Archive data from multiple devices
• Display images and data, allowing clinicians to manipulate images and data, and integrating with EHRs