Frequently Asked Questions

Lithotrac is the premier product for tracking and reporting of Lithotripsy patient data. This web-based application allows authorized users the capability to enter and report on patient data, visit information, and monitor outcomes data, all from a web browser.

Visual Consulting, Inc. was incorporated in 1994. The intent was to create a company capable of delivering software products and consulting services to customers in the Health Care field. One of the first commercial products was Lithotrac. While Visual Consulting has expanded to other industries, Health Care remains a core focus of the company.

On our secure servers. No other customers will have access to your data. The entire site is protected by our security measures. For more information, please have your IT Staff visit our technology page.

Visual Consulting has always understood the confidentiality of our customers' information. Our company policy is to not provide information about other customers. What we can say is that many hospital organizations across the country are actively using Lithotrac.

Typically data is entered by Lithotripsy Technicians. Data-integrity measures are in place to ensure the data is entered consistently and with high quality. This data is then made available (secured by unique passwords) to Technicians, Administrators, and Physicians.

Each tech has a unique ID and password to the partnership (site) they are associated with. Techs can only see data for their site.

Each tech is instructed to not share their ID and password with anyone.

Visual Consulting will only take instructions from a primary and secondary customer contact. Only they can request individuals and sites to be added or changed, and this is handled via written authorization.

Operationally it is up to each company to educate the staff on proper confidentiality procedures such as not sharing Passwords, leaving programs open and in view, printing of information, etc. These are risks associated with any program and site.

Lithotripsy for Kidney Stones

Lithotripsy for kidney stones is a nonsurgical procedure that uses shock waves from a lithotripsy machine to break up stones in the kidney. The stone pieces are then flushed out in the urine. The full name for this procedure is extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy, or ESWL. Typically, information about each case is stored in a lithotripsy database, like Lithotrac.com.

ESWL may be done when stones in the kidney are painful, are causing kidney damage, or are blocking the flow of urine to the bladder. Most kidney stones pass out of the body without treatment. Not all stones that do not pass on their own can be treated with lithotripsy. The treatment depends on how big the stones are, where they are, and what they are made of.

Plan for your care and recovery after the procedure. Allow for time to rest and try to find people to help you with your day-to-day duties. You should arrange for someone to drive you home after the procedure. Follow your healthcare provider's instructions about not smoking before and after the procedure.

You will be given a sedative or general anesthetic. You lie on a table over the lithotripsy machine. The machine sends shock waves against the kidney stones, breaking them. Your healthcare provider uses X-rays to find the kidney stones, keep the shock waves focused on them, and track their breakdown.

You may be in the recovery room for a few hours. You may keep having pain as the pieces of stone pass. Drink a lot of fluids to help keep stones from reforming and to flush out remaining pieces. It is very common, especially if a stent is used, to have blood in your urine for several days.

You may be rid of the kidney stones and the problems they might cause without surgery.

Risks include:

  • Risks associated with general anesthesia
  • Very small risk of damage to the kidney or development of high blood pressure
  • Risk of infection or bleeding
  • Broken kidney stones could irritate the bladder or ureter
  • Small risk of needing another procedure

You should ask your healthcare provider how these risks apply to you.