UCSD Musculoskeletal Radiology bonepit.com Signing

This information is about the IDXRAD system at UCSD and Thornton hospitals. The information for the VA Vista system is on a different handout. You can sign IDXRAD reports for UCSD Medical Center and Thornton from work or from your home computer via telnet access. This information is specifically for PC users using Netscape or Internet Explorer, but it will work (with minor modifications) using Mac.

• See separate instruction sheet on using the IDXRAD console. Kim van Leeuwen from UCSD Transcription will be meeting with you and will review using IDXRAD as well.

• You need to have a 6 digit provider number and a password for IDXRAD. The number will be assigned to you when you start working at UCSD and you will get the number from Kim at your meeting with her about using the IDXRAD system. You choose the password yourself

It is possible to sign reports at the VA for both Thornton and Hillcrest. Both of the computers in the bone pit are linked up. If the computer icon with idxrad is not on the desktop, it can be quickly reinstalled:

1. Double click the vista icon.

2. On the top row of the drop down menus click on connections. Click the disconnect button. Repeat and hit connect.

3. The option th-digit1.ucsd.edu should be highlighted. Click OK

4. login: idxrad

5. password: idxrad

6. login rad

Steps involved

• You need a connection to the internet from your home computer. Your

• You need a telnet application loaded on your computer. The telnet program that comes as a freebie with Windows is not good for signing reports because you can not edit. We recommend you install the IDXTERM (IDX terminal emulator) software to use for your telnet program. You can download it off the web or you can email me (mpathria@ucsd.edu) or John Hesselink (jhesselink@ucsd.edu) and we will email you the zipped version.

Installing and Configuring IDXTERM

• Put the "idxterm.zip" file in any empty directory.
  Unzip the file (if you do not already have a zip program, you will need one. You can download Winzip free from www.cnet.com)
  Double click on "setup.exe" and follow instructions.
  

Once you have installed IDXTERM

• Start IDXterm
  Select the CONNECT option
  Select HOST
  You can choose either serial32 or WINSOCK. Select WINSOCK.
  
• Next it will ask HOSTNAME. enter "th-digit1.ucsd.edu"
  When you get the prompt enter "idxrad" for the user then enter "idxrad"again for the password
  You should get the VAX VMS login prompt where you enter "rad" Follow the typical sequence with your provider number and password that you would use from the computers in the department.
  I

For PC users with a cable modem, John Hesselink has one other "pearl". After you setup idxterm, put a "windows shortcut" on your desktop. "Right click" your mouse button on the shortcut icon. Select "properties" and then the "shortcut" tab. In the "Target" box, type "idxterm.exe /winsock=th-digit1.ucsd.edu" In the "Start in" box, type the directory where you put the idxterm program. Now when you double click the "shortcut icon" it will automatically log on to the host computer. If your connection is a phone line, it probably will work as well but I haven't tried it.

You can sign reports from anywhere on the planet. Since you want to enjoy your time away, sign before you leave if you can. It is a good idea to expedite your reports if you are working the day before leaving town. When you log on to RTAS and are asked for the "2 digit work type", enter "33" and transcription will prioritize your reports, so hopefully reports would be available for review and signature the same day.

If you are taking your laptop, all you need is an Internet connection. There are free internet services, such as Juno (www.juno.com), or you can get a "dial-up account" at the University for $12/month (www.no.ucsd.edu or phone UCSD Network Operations at 858-534-1857). The UCSD dial-up account calls San Diego for Internet access so it has long distance charges. With Juno, you can access Internet from practically anywhere in the US for free by calling one of their 2,200 access numbers. Juno will provide you with 56K modem speed. Juno does not support MAC, though there may be some other free Internet providers for the MAC system, I just do not know of any myself.

When you are traveling without your laptop, most hotels have computer access or you can get online at a local Kiosk. On Windows based PCs, select "Run" from the "Start" menu and type "telnet". Within telnet, connect to "th-digit1.ucsd.edu" to get to the login prompt. The program is a little klugi; you may not be able to edit reports, but at least you sign off the other ones.

For MAC users

To log on to IDXRAD with a MAC, you need a telnet program. "BetterTelnet" is a free software program for a MAC that can be obtained at "http://www.cstone.net/~rbraun/mac/telnet". Page down to "Download BetterTelnet" and follow the instructions.

When you have the program installed (which seems to happen automatically on a MAC when you download it), open the BetterTelnet program. Under the file menu, select "Open Connection". In the "Host Name" box, type "th-digit1.ucsd.edu" and connect. That should get you to the "SunOS 5.6" prompt. Type "idxrad" for both the login and password. That will get you to the IDXRAD system.

Good luck!

If you are having problems, please contact the UCSD Department of Radiology support person:

Wes Dillon

619-543-2730

wes@ucsd.edu