Zhejiang Radiological Society Launches "COVID-19 Imaging Consultation Platform" to Support Pandemic Control with Remote Pro Bono Services

Recently, the Radiology Branch of the Zhejiang Medical Association has actively leveraged its professional role to urgently launch the “COVID-19 Imaging Consultation Platform” (https://health.eimageglobal.com/feiyan.sm). By harnessing the spatiotemporal advantages of the internet, the platform provides free imaging consultation services to the public, facilitating effective screening of suspected cases, preventing cross-infection among patients, and reducing the risk of epidemic spread.

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) struck with fierce momentum, sweeping across China. The epidemic situation in Zhejiang Province was also extremely severe, making it the second hardest-hit area after Hubei Province. In the face of the epidemic, time is life. On January 23, Zhejiang Province activated the Level I response for major public health emergencies. The entire society was rapidly mobilized to rigorously identify sources of infection and block potential transmission routes. As the epidemic spread, hospitals at all levels in the province faced the arduous task of disease screening.

Since fever is not an inevitable symptom in suspected cases, imaging examinations are one of the important means for diagnosing and evaluating pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus. As a critical stronghold in the fight against the epidemic, radiologists, technologists, and nurses from the Department of Radiology have also stepped onto the front lines.

However, the clinical manifestations of the novel coronavirus are atypical, and its imaging features are variable. Moreover, there is a relative shortage of radiologists in primary healthcare institutions across various regions. To further improve radiological examination and diagnosis for patients with novel coronavirus infection in Zhejiang Province and effectively reduce the risk of viral transmission, the Branch of Radiology of the Zhejiang Medical Association has actively leveraged its professional role to urgently launch the “Imaging Consultation Platform for COVID-19.” This platform utilizes the spatial and temporal advantages of the internet to provide free imaging consultation services to the general public.

Through the “COVID-19 Imaging Consultation Platform,” primary care physicians or patients can upload original imaging files using the platform’s “Imaging Cloud Manager” to initiate remote imaging consultations. Expert committee members from the Provincial Society of Radiology provide immediate remote free clinical services, thereby effectively screening suspected cases, preventing cross-infection among patients, and reducing the risk of epidemic spread.

Led by Professor Zhang Minming, Chairman of the Radiology Branch of the Zhejiang Medical Association, this free clinic initiative brings together all current standing committee members and other experts to form the province’s most formidable radiology team. Despite their demanding clinical schedules, these specialists have voluntarily dedicated their personal time to provide free medical consultations. In this battle against the epidemic—a war without smoke—such efforts deliver the most authoritative professional support to grassroots physicians and ensure the highest standard of care for patients.

The Radiology Branch of the Zhejiang Medical Association, established in 1951, is one of the earliest radiology branches founded in China. The inaugural chairman was Professor Zhang Fachu, a renowned expert in radiology. Previous chairmen include Professors Zhang Fachu, Qiu Minxiang, Tang Jun, Liu Zijiang, Zhang Shizheng, Xu Shunliang, and Yuan Jianhua. The current chairman, Professor Zhang Minming, is a professor and doctoral supervisor at the School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, and serves as the Director of the Department of Radiology at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine.

After nearly 70 years of development, the Radiology Branch of the Zhejiang Medical Association has grown steadily into a core force that unites medical science and technology professionals engaged in radiology across the province, promotes academic exchange and collaboration, and advances the development of radiology in Zhejiang Province. Under the leadership of the current chairman, Professor Zhang Minming, the Radiology Branch of the Zhejiang Medical Association has actively promoted the specialized development of radiology, establishing successive subspecialty groups including Interventional Imaging, Cardiothoracic, Abdominal, Neurological, Musculoskeletal, and Obstetrics & Pediatrics. It took the lead nationwide in advocating for the digitalization, networking, integration, and intelligent development of medical imaging. Leveraging the comprehensive prior implementation of digital imaging across Zhejiang Province, the “COVID-19 Imaging Consultation Platform” was rapidly established.