Digital Photography Cameras aren't just for staff photos anymore

by David Orenstein free-lance writer

The applications of photography to medicine seem obvious. Diagnosis and treatment monitoring have visual components, and record keeping is an essential part of patient care procedures. So, can a digital camera make photography easy and cheap enough to be worthwhile?

The answer is yes, with several caveats. Digital pictures are instant, easy to store, easy to work with, and more private, but they remain hindered by hidden costs and lower quality than film.

Of course, some physicians (especially cosmetic surgeons) use cameras regularly. But do most doctors really need to take a picture of every rash that comes through? Not usually, but as permanent visual records, pictures may prove handy for tracking the effects of a long-term treatment or presenting a patient case as part of a CME program. A camera proves especially useful when domestic violence or abuse is suspected; bruises can be documented and reported. On a lighter note, physicians, especially pediatricians, might want office staff to photograph new patients simply as a getting-to-know-you routine.

The option of using a film camera has been available for years, so why would a doctor use a digital if he never has seen a need for film?

Instant photos. The photographer knows immediately whether a picture is good and there is no need to wait for developing. Also, digital photos never have to leave the office, making them very private (did you see Robin Williams in “One Hour Photo”?). Digital photos often are better quality than Polaroids.

Easy collaboration. Sending a photo to a colleague is as easy as attaching it to an e-mail.

Editing. Although a physician often will want an unaltered image, under certain circumstances, using software to adjust lighting, sharpness, and other image attributes can enhance image quality.

Physical storage. A rewritable compact disc or Zip disk with 36 photos takes up far less space than 36 prints. Photos can be printed if needed.

Cost. Film and developing costs add up quickly. Digital cameras require compact flash or smart media memory cards, but just a few cards costing less than $20 each can last a long time.

And now those caveats:

Quality. Digital pictures are made up of little dots, or pixels. An inexpensive (less than $200) camera’s image will comprise less than a million pixels, which is much worse than film. A medium-priced camera (about $300) will have about 2 million pixels (good enough for a 5x7 print). Pay more ($500 and up) and larger pictures can be made.

Resolution (dots) is only one attribute, however. Cameras vary in their acurate color rendering, so read product reviews. Also, close-ups can be troublesome because all except the most expensive digital cameras come with one unremovable lens. SLR (swappable lens) digital cameras can cost $2000.

Storage. Data storage is cheap and plentiful, but it is not free. A digital camera photo takes about 500K of space. Simple patient portraits can be saved as smaller, lower-quality JPEG or GIF files, but any picture for medical posterity must be stored in the high-quality TIFF format. Offices need decent backup storage systems such as CD-RWs or Zip disks to start working with digital photography.

Cost. In addition to the cost of storage and the camera itself—any decent digital camera will cost more than a nice SLR film camera—there are hidden costs for printing. Good color inkjet printers with a credible photo printing capability cost around $250. Your office may already have such a printer for standard office printing, but photo-quality paper can cost $1 a sheet and you will go through those color cartridges a lot faster.

Bottom line: If you have seen a use for photography in your practice but thought film was a hassle, give digital a try. Otherwise, keep taking good, descriptive text notes when you see those rashes and moles.

David Orenstein is a technology and business writer in Silicon Valley. To learn more about a technology topic in Computing Care, e-mail him at davealli@attbi.com.