Getting the Most Out of Vendor Neutral Archiving Solutions
When anyone talks about enterprise imaging today, they’re likely to bring up vendor neutral
archiving. Radiology Business recently offered an article on vendor neutral archiving that included the input of three experts on the topic, all of whom have unique takes on the technology behind solutions that are freeing radiology IT personnel and everyone who needs more consistent, unfettered access to medical imaging.
While the individuals Radiology Business spoke with are from large institutions, the advantages of VNA are just as advantageous for smaller medical facilities.
One of the high priorities among medical professionals, as was discussed by the experts, is bringing in ultrasound imaging. However, the different departments that utilize these images have varying degrees of ability in handling the data, which includes storing the information, making it accessible to that department and others, and managing the workflow of the data.
With all the mergers and acquisitions going on today in the healthcare industry, total integration is critical. However, it’s not always on the list of priorities as the M&A deal is being worked out. It’s only later that such issues come to a head, and it’s usually when department A has a PACS from one vendor while department B has a PACS from another and they realize they can’t access or share data. This happens even without a big merger and vendor neutral archiving is stepping in to assist.
One of the experts also pointed out that different data sources like specialty PACS silos can also be a problematic area. This requires a major investment of the IT personnel’s time. Furthermore, such situations call for coordination among the different IT specialty-specific teams. However, by launching an enterprise wide electronic health records system powered by vendor neutral archiving solutions, the issue can be resolved.
Another subject the experts touched upon is the universal viewer that can be understood by any viewer. Furthermore, the format needs to be efficient for use and allow for image manipulation and offer processing tools that each particular user requires. While some providers might have the IT staff on hand to develop such a solution, one does not exist off the shelf, which is why some providers plan to throw out their old PACS and bring in a new one.
Not many small providers have that kind of budget – the kind that allows them to toss a hugely expensive piece of technology out the window and acquire another one. However, vendor neutral archiving paired with PACS and a cloud-based archiving solution can free up those with small budgets.
OffSite Image Management, Inc. is utilizing vendor neutral archiving techniques, along with cloud-based solutions, to bring affordable solutions to healthcare providers that have long needed them. Our 360-degree solutions have brought unparalleled access to radiologists who have struggled with access, disaster recovery and business continuity for years. Contact us today and we’ll tell you how our approach to vendor neutral archiving is helping to change the face of the industry.