The more medical imaging technology improves, the larger the file sizes become. And while everyone enjoys the advancements in technology and benefits that patients receive, accessibility can become an issue for providers, if not because of file size, then because of file type. VNA is the often sought-out source to overcome these challenges.
For years, radiologists looked to compact discs as a way to transition from film, but even this new method had its limitations:
- Discs burn improperly
- Discs get damaged in transit
- Discs are lost or stolen
- Disc-burning technology takes up space
Some of these issues surrounding disc-burning technology will require the patient to reschedule the exam and go through the whole process an extra time, which comes at an expense, both in terms of money and time for the patient, but it can also backlog the radiology department. This is where the cloud-based methods are showing vast improvements in terms of access, but what about proprietary viewers?
The Problem With the Cloud
Radiologists and other healthcare professionals easily store images using a variety of cloud-based solutions. But what about people working together with a patient who uses different vendors? In some cases, they’re using proprietary viewers, which means what works for one clinician won’t work for the other.
The workaround is VNA, but it’s important to make sure you’re partnering with a vendor using true VNA services. Despite how robust a PACS solution you might have, there are some things it simply cannot do. For example, your PACS won’t be able to share images with departments outside of your own, even if it’s just down the hall.
Another issue you have to consider is that should you decide to switch up your system, you’re going to incur high costs to migrate your data due to proprietary issues. If you’re working with the right VNA provider, you can bypass this expense and inconvenience.
OffSite’s Offerings
At OffSite Image Management, we address all the issues healthcare providers encounter with their radiology services, including storage and accessibility issues.
Our VNA services fit the definition of “true VNA,” because we offer complete DICOM services, which means our technology includes the ability to store the complete suite of DICOM SOP classes. Our query and retrieve approach supports the most inclusive DICOM query/retrieve specification.
When you partner with OffSite, we provide ADT updates for image files stored in the archive, and we do all the maintenance, which means your on-site IT staff can concentrate on local mission-critical tasks.
Finally, OffSite offers a non-proprietary approach, which means all objects are stored in a non-proprietary format that is understood by everyone you work with. Find out more about our offerings by contacting us.