World Health Imaging, Telemedicine, and Informatics Alliance

The World Health Imaging, Telemedicine and Informatics Alliance (WHITIA) is a non-profit global health technology and social venture established in 2006 by affiliates of Northwestern University near Chicago, Illinois.[1][4] WHITIA cultivates high-level strategic relationships with non-governmental organizations, imaging industry innovators and academic institutions in order to integrate and deliver meaningful, sustainable, diagnostic technology to underserved communities worldwide. WHITIA's vision is to facilitate the deployment of thousands of digital medical imaging systems worldwide, providing one billion people with access to diagnostic imaging.[5] WHITIA was formerly known as the World Health Imaging Alliance (WHIA) until it formally expanded its scope in June 2009.

World Health Imaging, Telemedicine and Informatics Alliance
FoundedChicago, IL, US
FounderMike Hoaglin, Dave Kelso, Matt Glucksberg, Michael Diamond[1]
Type501(c)(3) Non-profit Organization
FocusLow-cost medical imaging, X-ray, Health Information technology, sustainability
Location
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Newton N. Minow, Chair of the Board
Michael W. Ferro, Jr., Vice Chair[2]
Ivy Walker, CEO
[3]
Websiteworldhealthimaging.org

WHITIA's first formal public launch was in April 2009 at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Annual Conference & Exhibition in Chicago, Illinois. WHITIA announced strategic partners including SEDECAL, Carestream Health and Merge Healthcare, receiving extensive coverage in Health IT magazines and publications.[6][7] At the 2009 Annual Conference of the Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM) in Charlotte, North Carolina, WHITIA announced its partnership with SIIM, which will allow both organizations to collaborate on specific initiatives.[8][9] WHITIA was recently ranked #15 of the top 25 most influential people, institutions, and organizations in the radiology industry.[10]

At the 2009 RSNA Annual Meeting, WHITIA launched, Remi-d, a remote-operated screening X-ray system for use in the developing world. Its strengths in these areas stem from the higher burden of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Tuberculosis (TB) co-infection, high incidents of Black Lung disease, or outbreaks of other infectious respiratory diseases. The teleradiology and remote-controlled features of Remi-d allow resource-limited areas such as sub-Saharan Africa, South and Central America and Southeast Asia, where Radiologists and Radiographers are in short supply to have a functioning X-ray service.[11]

WHITIA currently has pilot integrated digital X-ray sites in South Africa and Guatemala at established clinics in need and is expanding to new qualified sites in partnership with NGOs such as Rotary International while cooperating with the local and national governments.[12]

Guatemala clinics

The Guatemala pilot sites in urban Guatemala City and rural Río Hondo provide essential healthcare technology to thousands of people in the communities served. They are designed to be models for the wider expansion of the WHITIA network throughout the clinics in need in urban and rural Guatemala. The system's specific design for Guatemala City is an integration of some of WHITIA's partners' strengths and generosity:

  • SEDECAL provides the X-ray generator and controls
  • Carestream Health donates the computed radiography (CR) digital scanner and plates
  • Kane X-ray donates personnel to perform installation and set up of the CR and PACS

This project was largely funded by several US and Guatemalan Rotary clubs along with the key resource support of the Guatemalan municipal and national governments.[13]

References
  1. "McCormick students and faculty tackle health care challenge in the developing world". Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, Northwestern University. Archived from the original on 2010-06-10. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  2. "Board of Directors". Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  3. "Personnel". Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  4. "World Health Imaging Alliance Partners For X-Rays in Developing World". McCormick School of Engineering. Archived from the original on 2010-06-11. Retrieved 2009-07-04.
  5. "Welcome to WHITIA | Homepage". Worldhealthimaging.org. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
  6. "Not-for-Profit Has a Vision to Help a Billion People". Reuters. 2009-04-06. Archived from the original on 2013-02-01. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  7. "World Health Imaging Alliance Poised to Bring Imaging Diagnostics and Data to the Developing World". Yahoo Finance. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  8. "World Health Imaging Alliance (WHIA) Announces Support From The Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM)". Business Wire. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  9. "World Health Imaging Alliance poised to bring imaging diagnostics and data to the developing world". Imaging Economics. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  10. "25 Most Influential in Radiology". rt Image. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
  11. "WHITIA launches digital medical X-ray device for screening infectious diseases in developing countries". THE MEDICAL NEWS. 30 November 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
  12. "SIIM to Support World Health Imaging Alliance". HealthTech Wire. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  13. "WHITIA Announces the Completion of Digital X-ray Pilot Sites in Urban and Rural Guatemala". Business Wire. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
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