Link Images Now
If the images you are going to be attaching are stored within the Diamond Dental Software program, click the Link Images Now button. This will open the NEA Image Attachment Selection screen. You will use this screen to select the images to be included in the attachment. Highlight the desired image using the thumbnail viewer on the left. Click the Click to Include button to include the image in the attachment. Once clicked this button will turn green and display the caption Included. This indicates the image has been selected for the attachment. Any number of images can be included in the attachment. Make sure the NEA Image Type and NEA Orientation is properly designated. These items are seen at the lower left of the screen and can be modified. The zoom functions and image comments are also active on this screen.

Export Resolution
NEA will be permanently storing these images in their image repository. They prefer that the images be as small a file size as possible while still being “acceptable” for the insurance examiners. NEA has suggested that images be scanned at 100 dpi for x-rays and 72 dpi for reflective scans like EOB’s, perio charts, etc. DPI (dots per inch) refers to the resolution or quality of the image. 100 dpi does generate  a reasonably viewable digital x-ray. Apparently insurance examiners are happy enough with the clarity of a 100 dpi scanned image. You may wish to scan your x-rays at a higher dpi for your own diagnostic records. Diamond Dental Software feels 150 to 250 dpi is more appropriate for scanned x-rays that will be a permanent part of the patient’s record. Personal preference must be your guide in this case. Remember, the higher the dpi, the better the image quality, but also the larger the file size of the image. The images that you will be sending to NEA are not your original images, but copies. The NEA Image Attachment Selection screen has the ability to export the selected images at a lower dpi than your original images. There is an Export Resolution for Grayscale (x-rays and non-color images), and an Export Resolution for Color images. You may set this Export Resolution anywhere from Full Size (which would be an exact copy of the original image) to a lesser dpi setting such as 100 dpi. Therefore, you can scan your original images for your patient’s record at a higher dpi (for example 200), and keep that for your own records, and export that image using a lesser Export Resolution. Everybody’s happy. Remember all x-rays should be scanned using 8 bit grayscale. This may also be called “256 shades of gray.” 8 bit grayscale images will be a much smaller file size than 24 bit color images. If you don’t need accurate color reproduction, use 8 bit grayscale scanning wherever possible.

Click Finished
When you have selected all the images to be attached, click the Finished button. Diamond Dental Software will send the selected images to an NEA holding directory on your computer’s hard drive along with information about the patient that is needed for the attachment. The NEA Image Attachment Selection screen will close. You will once again be viewing the Insurance Form Parameters screen and ready to finish creating your electronic claim.