The Changing Landscape of DICOM Storage
PACS was a game changer when it first emerged in the healthcare industry. Unfortunately, many PACS are limited in their ability to provide the type of DICOM storage and access to images that providers need today.
Essentially, the properties the industry sees in vendor neutral archiving (VNA) solutions is outpacing the functionality of most standard PACS. Furthermore, PACS have become limited in their ability to scale and reach interoperability standards. Many believe the interoperability limitations is caused by a vendor silo effect, which is something VNAs are able to sidestep.
PACS are further challenged by changes in HIPAA, Meaningful Use and HITECH. Therefore, a majority of archiving systems can’t keep up, especially as image volumes increase and the demand for more staff and more machinery increases.
VNA is stepping up to be the workable solution for many providers, but the definition of VNA differs across the industry. A broad definition that most can agree upon is that VNA is developed with open architecture, it should seamlessly integrate with existing systems, and it should improve the access and distribution of imaging data and reports. These must all be functional across departments, and perhaps, across providers.
Since most providers are concerned with cost, reliable archiving and security, the software as a service, or storage as a service, has become the next big thing. It’s all about the cloud today, and for good reason. It’s cost effective, scalable, secure, and it comes with disaster recovery services that help organizations stay connected to their data regardless of what natural disasters are occurring in their area.
DICOM storage is getting an upgrade, whether it’s a private or public cloud. Private clouds allow only one organization to be tied to the vendor’s system. A public cloud, which is what most organizations are moving to today, host a variety of providers and the vendor handles all the management of the software and servers.
Any software updates or server upgrades are all taken care of by the vendor, which means providers don’t have to waste time, money and workers on tasks that can be handled for less money by the vendor. Public clouds also add a layer of security and redundancy to their solutions, which is a major perk for organizations that need 24/7 access to their data and they need to stay HIPAA compliant.
Business continuity is another bonus with cloud-based DICOM storage. Even if a disaster strikes, cloud-based solutions ensure the organization will run as usual, even if the primary PACS is unavailable.
If you’re looking for a more simplified information and image management solution, can’t afford disruption in service, you’re located in an area prone to natural disasters, or if you need remote access to your images every hour of every day, a cloud-based VNA solution is what you need.
OffSite Image Management, Inc., is a company that is changing the landscape where VNA and cloud-based solutions are concerned. Contact us today and find out how you’ll save money and improve your services.