Bermuda Hospitals Board doctors have hooked up with boffins Down Under to get instant feedback on CAT scans in the middle of the night.

Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) will collaborate with Australian-based International Teleradiology Corporation (ITC).

Launched on March 1, the partnership assigns the task of reading scanned images to ITC, who will be providing after hours support primarily to the emergency department.

Since the introduction of computerised tomography (CAT scan) at BHB almost 20 years ago, the emergency department has come to rely heavily on this technology to provide accurate and timely diagnoses, said a BHB press release.

With an ever-increasing proportion of emergency department visits requiring CT scans, networking with ITC provides a viable option for physicians who need instant access to studies in the middle of the night.

Digital images will be sent over the Internet allowing for accurate and quick responses in real time. All digital data is encrypted to ensure confidentiality.

Dr. Stephen Witchell, Clinical Director of MRI at BHB, explained the value this service affords to patients.

?The nature of the emergency department is to provide service 24/7, 365 days a year. Physicians require CT images to be interpreted by specialists. Because of time zones, Australia is ideal for Bermuda, as radiologists will be awake and alert during times we need this service.

?Radiologists at ITC typically hold speciality credentials in three jurisdictions ? the USA, the UK and Australia. They are well-trained and highly qualified professionals, who are organised and alert during our after-hours.

?We are fortunate to have access to this level of expertise, since rapid reporting will now be available to patients at night and during the weekends,? said Dr. Witchell.