As storage requirements for healthcare organizations become strained, the finger of blame is pointing directly at diagnostic imaging systems. When considering that diagnostic images number in the hundreds of millions per year in the United States, the size of the files is large and files are required to remain in the system, most organizations have to come up with a strategy for overcoming the storage strain. Vendor neutral archiving (VNA) is increasingly being touted as the technology to implement.
Technology has evolved to provide vast improvements in healthcare, but given the file sizes of images from CT scanners, X-ray and MRI machines, the traditional standalone PACS are no longer the optimal choice for storing images. Thanks to the data neutrality offered in VNA, healthcare providers are finding the solution to many of their imaging problems.
By some accounts, VNA is still considered a “new” technology for enterprise-wide unstructured data. But for those who have adopted VNA, they can speak to its ability to collect and consolidate data, as well as manage it from a variety of data silos.
Gaining Control
The centralization of the process is one of the most valued aspects of VNA. With data consolidated, archiving occurs at a faster rate, as does the ability to back up data for disaster recovery purposes. Users of VNA see more control over many aspects of the workflow process, but they also get perks, such as updated security and improved data availability.
Furthermore, PACS data migration is also more streamlined with VNA, making the process less complex and more budget friendly.
Yet another perk you will find in utilizing VNA is integrating and implementing new technologies. Technological advancements occur at a fast and furious rate, which is another reason having a scalable and vendor-neutral friendly solution on your side is so crucial in today’s environment.
The Cloud and VNA
Cloud-based VNA brings a whole new layer of interoperability. While once viewed as a risk to the integrity of data within a system, cloud-based vendors quickly cleared up any misconception by being steadfast in their efforts to improve security. There was also the proprietary PACS roadblock that kept many from adopting cloud-based VNA solutions, but that too has been mitigated.
Convinced of the security of cloud-based solutions and due to being enticed by cost-savings inherent with them, hospital administrators are now all-in with the cloud. However, there are some things to look for in the right VNA solution:
- Must have the ability to store complete suite of DICOM SOP classes
- Supports the most inclusive DICOM query/retrieve specification
- Must handle ADT updates to the image files stored in the archive
- Must store all objects in a non-proprietary format understood by the community at large
At OffSite Image Management, we offer everything above and more. Find out more about how our approach to VNA will handle your needs for accessing data and improving workflow by contacting us today.