Keeneland Installs World's First Digital Repository™

The annual September Yearling sale at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky, the world's leading Thoroughbred auction facility, brings Thoroughbred sellers and buyers from around the globe. The most recent Yearling sale featured almost 5,000 registered horses. Within the first 10 days, sales figures surpassed all previous records and eventually topped out at $399,791,800 (USD) over the 14-day auction period, making it the highest grossing Thoroughbred auction in the world.

Economically, with so much at stake, horse buyers want assurances of the horse's soundness and, therefore, require a set of radiographs of the selling horse's extremities. These radiographs must be taken within three weeks prior to the auction. The radiographic exam, which averages 32 x-ray films per horse, is then submitted to Keeneland's repository for review by the buyers' veterinarian.

"During the auction's two week duration, the logistics of accommodating almost 200 veterinarians reviewing sets of 32 images per horse for approximately 4,700 horses were massive," said Cathy Schenck, Keeneland's Repository Supervisor. "With only one set of films available per horse, imagine scores of veterinarians standing in line waiting to analyze images on some of the more popular horses. Needless to say, it can get quite hectic at times."

At this year's September Yearling sale, the 4,700 sets of pre-sale images were reviewed an average of 3.4 times per set, amounting to the actual physical handling of more than half a million pieces of x-ray films. Fortunately, with the growing use of digital radiography (DR) for equine imaging, a high-tech, digital image review solution is now available at Keeneland. Eklin, in conjunction with its partner Cedara Software, installed the world's first Eklin Digital Repository™ at Keeneland marking the beginning of Keeneland's transition to digital image review and archiving.

Twelve workstations, located within the repository, incorporate Eklin and Cedara technology to allow multiple veterinarians the ability to simultaneously log onto the system and instantly retrieve pre-sale DR exams. The images are then reviewed on a high-grade, grey scale medical monitor. The system tracks the number of reviews and the reviewer's identification, providing an instant tracking report back to Keeneland.

Many of the leading equine practitioners, who submit or review pre-sale exams at the Keeneland auctions, currently use DR and digital image management within their practices. Keeneland's transition to a Digital Repository came as welcomed news.

"Hagyard was among the earliest in the nation to adopt digital radiography technology and we have subsequently grown to ten Eklin DR systems in preparation for Keeneland's implementation of a Digital Repository," said Andrew R. Clark, DVM, MBA, president and CEO, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington. "The installation of the Digital Repository at Keeneland provides significant advantages for not only the reviewing veterinarian, but also for those of us who submit high quality DR images to be reviewed.

"Now, the reviewing veterinarian can analyze a highly detailed DR image which can be optimized to focus on regions of specific interest. Plus, the opportunity to digitally review images versus handling multiple analogue films for each horse will provide a welcomed savings of time."

Originally, this leading edge medical image and information management solution was developed for the global healthcare market, including such diverse industries as pharmaceutical, dentistry, orthopedics, radiology, oncology, women's health and more. For Keeneland, Eklin developed a unique image review system based on technology found in one of the world's most popular radiology applications, eFilm Workstation. With customized capabilities specifically designed for Keeneland, this technology brings tailored digital review to this world renowned equine auction facility.

"I believe the transition to digital review at Keeneland will revolutionize the way we conduct pre-sale exams and analyses," said William A. Rood, DVM, JD, founder of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington which has three Eklin DR systems. "The ease of recalling 32 digital images at your fingertips and ability to electronically store complete exams is a major breakthrough. In fact, it could have a substantial impact on sharing and reviewing pre-sale exams on a global basis."

Keeneland is the first Thoroughbred auction facility in the world to use digital image management for pre-sale exam reviews. As digital solutions expand throughout the veterinary care industry, similar benefits originally realized in the human healthcare market are materializing.

"With digital solutions, cost and time savings increase dramatically plus hazardous waste from film developing and disposal is eliminated," said Gary Cantu, President and CEO for Eklin. "Most importantly, however, digital technology provides superb images. This results in better patient outcomes and more accurate diagnoses. In the end, everyone – seller, buyer and horse – wins."

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