Hexarad launches new technology to reduce radiology delays

Leading healthcare technology start-up Hexarad has launched a workflow management technology solution, OptiRad, to help radiology departments improve their turnaround times and speed up diagnoses for patients. The OptiRad launch comes as the UK’s healthcare system faces unprecedented levels of diagnostic demand.

Dr Farzana Rahman, Hexarad CEO, commented, “As radiologists ourselves, we really understand the struggles that radiology departments are going through at the moment, and we know they need something to help reduce delays now, rather than in two years’ time. We have developed this technology to specifically address some of the key causes of diagnostic delays, and we believe it will substantially reduce unnecessary delays, ultimately leading to faster and more effective treatment for many patients.”

OptiRad works by enabling radiology departments to deploy their existing workforce in the most efficient way, working across multiple different sites and assigning specialist reporting to the most appropriate radiologist, rota management, an allocations engine, as well as intelligent supply and demand forecasting. The positive impact on patient diagnosis, flow and waiting lists will be significant.

The demand for imaging has dramatically increased since the start of the pandemic, with a tenfold increase in imaging waiting lists over the last two years. Last year the UK performed approximately 70 scans per minute, but delays on reporting those scans mean that patients are waiting longer for their diagnoses and treatment.

OptiRad is part of Hexarad’s intelligent end-to-end radiology platform, which encompasses a range of tools, not only to boost reporting capacity, but also increase efficiency across radiology departments, preventing unnecessary patient delays. Hexarad is already in discussions with a number of NHS Trusts about the roll-out of OptiRad, in addition to its existing teleradiology remote reporting services.