PACSBridge vs Paper vs DICOM Portal
Comprehensive comparison of obstetric sharing options
Privacy & Security
| Feature | Paper Printouts | Patient Portal | PACSBridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient Data Protection | ❌ PII visible (name, DOB, MRN) | ❌ PII visible (name, DOB, MRN) | ✅ Fully de-identified - PII protected |
| Safe Social Sharing | ❌ Can't share safely - PII in image | ❌ PII burned into images - unsafe for social media | ✅ Patient-friendly - ready for sharing |
| Identity Theft Risk | ❌ Risk of identity theft when shared | ❌ Risk of identity theft when shared | ✅ De-identified and secure |
Health & Safety
| Feature | Paper Printouts | Patient Portal | PACSBridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| BPA Exposure | ❌ Gloves needed (thermal paper BPA exposure) | ✅ On your device - no BPA risk | ✅ On your device - no BPA risk |
| ALARA Compliance | ❌ Encourages unnecessary keepsake scan demand | ✅ Reduces keepsake scan requests (ALARA) | ✅ Reduces keepsake scan requests (ALARA) |
Image Quality & Content
| Feature | Paper Printouts | Patient Portal | PACSBridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Image Types | ❌ Fixed images only | ❌ Fixed images only | ✅ Images & Cineloops videos included |
| Image Selection | ❌ Manual image selection | ❌ Entire study | ✅ Automatic AI selection of clearest images or sonographer chooses subset |
| Image Quality | ❌ Low quality - must photograph printer output | ❌ Medical DICOM quality with burned-in PII | ✅ High-quality, designed for social media |
| Longevity | ❌ Images degrade over time | ✅ High-quality digital preservation | ✅ High-quality digital preservation |
| Cineloops | ❌ Not available | ❌ Not available on many portals | ✅ Enhanced family bonding experience |
Operational Efficiency
| Feature | Paper Printouts | Patient Portal | PACSBridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time Efficiency | ❌ Time-consuming printing process | ❌ Integration Issues, lost passwords etc. | ✅ Save time - one-button sharing |
| Setup & Training | ❌ Thermal paper cost and setup | ❌ Complex portal integration & training required | ✅ Quick setup - operational in 1-2 days |
| Device Compatibility | ❌ Requires apps/adapters for modern devices | ✅ Some require apps | ✅ Simple - no app needed |
Patient Experience & Clinical Workflow
| Feature | Paper Printouts | Patient Portal | PACSBridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Timing | ✅ Controlled release with physician interpretation | ❌ Patients see results before physician consultation - causes anxiety | ✅ Physician-controlled sharing - appropriate timing |
| Patient Anxiety Management | ✅ Results delivered with medical context | ❌ Raw medical data without interpretation increases worry | ✅ Keepsake images without medical interpretation |
| Delivery Methods | ❌ Limited to physical handoff | ❌ Patients need logins and passwords | ✅ Email, text, or WhatsApp delivery |
| Sharing Ease | ❌ Manual distribution required | ❌ Portal access barriers | ✅ Instant digital sharing |
Business Benefits
| Feature | Paper Printouts | Patient Portal | PACSBridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Branding Opportunity | ❌ No branding opportunity | ❌ No branding opportunity | ✅ Your brand logo on every image and cineloop |
| Environmental Impact | ❌ Environmental waste (paper/plastic) | ✅ Eco-friendly digital solution | ✅ Eco-friendly digital solution |
Summary
PACSBridge offers a comprehensive solution that addresses the critical limitations of both paper printouts and traditional patient portals. Unlike patient portals that create anxiety by giving patients premature access to medical data, PACSBridge provides physician-controlled sharing of de-identified keepsake images at the appropriate time, enhancing the patient experience while maintaining clinical workflow integrity.