Instant messaging is now a reality at the radiology department in The Cleveland Clinic.

The facility completed the installation of Userplane's Instant Communicator, an audio, video and text messaging service. The system enables doctors and professional staff to contact and communicate with each other using high fidelity, low bandwidth audio and video technology.

Described as the next-generation computer-aided communication, Userplane Instant Communicator delivers communication through compressed streaming audio and video on the Cleveland Clinic's existing computer network and PCs. Utilizing Marcomedia's Flash tool suite, users can see and hear each other in a live conversation, both within the facility and outside.

"Sharing information among doctors, technologists and professional staff is critical to providing excellent healthcare," said David Piraino, MD, head, section of computers in radiology at the facility. "We needed a system that would allow us to go beyond mere text messaging and enable us to have a virtual face-to-face conversation. This system permits us to work more efficiently and to provide better patient care."