Getting More Out of Your PACS
Radiology users face a number of challenges today that their outdated PACS can’t handle on its own.
First and foremost, data sets are growing at a fast rate. Healthcare imaging specialists and radiologists were once only concerned with CT, but now there are massive images related to PET, MR, and 3D – all of which need to be addressed.
There is also a renewed interest in speed. Everyone is expected to be more efficient today and the speed at which they can access images is part of that equation. There is also the issue of reimbursements, where efficiency means you get more reimbursements. However, accuracy is just as important as speed, which means the images must be accurate, viewable and available.
Providers today expect to have more portability. Mobile devices are everywhere, and it makes sense to have medical images available through mobile devices. However, this is not something the typical PACS can handle, which is why more providers are going with an offsite image management provider that can offer the portability that is lacking in the traditional PACS.
There are three new views on PACS that could help address these issues:
1. Simplicity
If you’re looking to gain sub-second image access, you need to reconsider how you’re working with your PACS. Server-rendering technology has to be readdressed. Instead of investing in a new system, adopting a vendor neutral archiving (VNA) solution could be the answer. Offsite vendors offering VNA can offer quick and easy access to images faster, without proprietary challenges and with portability in mind.
2. Deconstructed PACS
Legacy PACS have a problem when it comes to working with a flexible work list, integrating 3D, diagnostic integrity, image viewing and platform independence. Therefore the traditional view of PACS needs to be deconstructed so that all of these tasks can be performed efficiently and effectively. Going with an offsite vendor for your medical imaging management can handle all of these tasks.
3. Embracing PACS
PACS aren’t on their way out – they’re just evolving. PACS vendors are making changes that allow providers to use their existing databases with better efficiency. PACS will continue to be a valuable tool used for diagnostics, but users today are looking for it to do more than it is designed to do. That’s why choosing a cloud-based image management solution in concert with PACS is turning into a winning option for providers today.
At OffSite Image Management, Inc., we have worked with a number of hospitals, large and small, to help them get more out of their PACS. Our solution involves something called “iQ-PACS.” It’s a highly scalable picture archiving and communication system that has already been installed in more than 5,000 facilities in 97 countries. We guarantee high-performance workflow with our central storage and management system, involving web-based image distribution. Contact us today and learn more about how we can make your hospital more efficient and effective.