Upgrading technology should be something to look forward to, but for cardiology departments looking for a better way to manage images, investigating the various cardiac PACS out there can come with stress. The sticking points are often caused by a lack of interoperability with legacy equipment and/or integrating the new technology in a manner that avoids disruption.
The goal is often to improve the workflow in the office, which is what a new cardiac PACS should accomplish. But in order for that to happen, there has to be a good connection to all the disparate silos containing patient data. There is also a goal among many providers that have to do with cutting costs. Through implementing the right PACS, all goals can be accomplished.
Asking the Right Questions
Before you invest in a new cardiac PACS, you have to know where you are right now, where you want to be in the near future and what you think your needs will be long term. Once these answers are established, it becomes much easier to choose a cardiac PACS that will benefit you.
Analytics are important in just about every aspect of healthcare today. Your cardiac PACS needs to be able to work perfectly with digital patient records and implement them across departments. The best PACS vendors will include high-powered analytics software so you can make the most of all your data, and include report distribution tools.
Will the PACS you choose offer structured reporting? This is a big one for most radiology IT personnel, as having a way for everyone to file a report, in the same manner, is crucial to the smooth flow and transfer of information.
Referral Tools for Ease of Access
Patients today are seeking out care from multiple providers, which means referring physicians need fast response times for final reports. Some of the best providers of PACS solutions are now able to provide final reports in just a few hours – a process that, with less robust technology, would take days.
When reporting happens fast, that means all other elements of the patient care process can occur at greater speed. Furthermore, more efficient reporting tools mean there is less duplication or re-entry of information, which saves time and money, not to mention improves workflow.
At OffSite Image Management, we focus on providing PACS that meet your needs today while giving you the flexibility to scale later. We base our PACS solutions on the latest DICOM standards, which is why so many of our clients are able to improve their businesses. If you want to make it easier to access patient exams and data at multiple locations at any time, check out our PACS page and see how our approach can be the solution you’ve been looking for.
