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They’re finally here: instant, shareable and secure ultrasound images for expecting parents.

Starting this month, patients referred to our University of Minnesota Health Maternal-Fetal Medicine Centers in Burnsville, Edina and Minneapolis will be able to receive their ultrasound images on their phone or by email immediately following their appointment.

University of Minnesota Health has partnered with Trice Imaging to offer the new, leading-edge service that allows patients to instantly share images of their ultrasound with friends and family.

For years, patients would leave their ultrasound appointment with a hard-copy photo or even a CD with which they could later download the files on their computer and upload them on social media. The process was lengthy and the black-and-white photos would degrade over time. There is no cost to the patient, though standard data and text rates may apply when sending or receiving the image.

“This basically takes out the middle man,” said Sarah Landrus, the ultrasound supervisor for the M Health Maternal-Fetal Medicine Center. “With the new system, patients can have instant access to the images on their phones or through their email and they can share those right away with their friends and family.”

For patients, the process is simple:

• Go to an ultrasound appointment at the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Centers in Burnsville, Edina or Minneapolis.
• During the visit, you’ll be asked whether you would prefer to receive the images by email or by phone.
• Verbally give your phone number or email address to the clinic.
• You’ll receive a link shortly after that will bring you to the images on your phone or in your email and from there, you’ll be able to download them.
• Post your ultrasound photos to social media and share your love and happiness with all your friends and family.

Patients will be able to use the service every time they come in for an exam and never have to worry about privacy issues; each image sent has been encrypted and anonymized for your security. That feature also allows physicians who quickly want a second opinion on an ultrasound to share them safely and securely with other University of Minnesota Health physicians who may not immediately be able to access our internal system.

“It’s just such a huge win for patient satisfaction—and it improves our efficiency and decreases costs,” Landrus said.