Patient data is exploding as more and more people seek out the assistance that medical imaging can provide. The number of eyes on those images is also growing, which means data needs to be as accessible as possible. Fortunately, VNA (vendor neutral archiving) is stepping up to provide an ease of access that is far reaching compared to what was possible before it came along.
Most healthcare facilities store their medical images in picture archiving communication systems (PACS). And because PACS are often department-specific, there has been a history of barriers between what was needed and actually what was meeting those needs. Proprietary technology serves as the biggest barrier, and that’s where VNA comes in to break down the roadblocks.
Widespread Integration
Electronic medical records (EMR) are part of a high percentage of healthcare facility’s workflow today. Integrating with EMRs has become a hot topic, and it’s not always easy working around all the different hardware and software on the market today. The results are worth the efforts, though, as EMRs have proven to be the avenue through which more patient-centric results can be achieved.
One of the issues that plague healthcare providers is that when they store data in their PACS, it is archived in DICOM format, which means non-DICOM data is not usually part of the archiving process. However, with VNA, this issue is cleared up. VNA allows integration of DICOM and non-DICOM objects, which means accessing everything that is needed to provide quality care in an efficient manner is possible. So, if patient-centric goals are what’s on the line, VNA is helping providers to reach those goals.
VNA’s Role in Disaster Recovery
In many ways, disaster recovery is also about creating a better path to accessing data, be it imaging or other healthcare related data. Again, VNA is the conduit through which more comprehensive disaster recovery strategies can be realized.
There is no shortage of cyber criminals out there today, eagerly creating new methods of accessing data that should be highly protected. There are also natural disasters and human error to consider, and disaster recovery strategies are a proactive method through which you can get up and running quickly after a disaster.
Having a way to migrate data in a fast and non-costly fashion becomes a major component of a disaster recovery plan, and that’s what VNA can help provide. VNA gives you the ability to store and protect data, which means you can spend more time thinking about how you’re going to use your data.
At OffSite Image Management, our VNA solutions have been an industry-frontrunner. Contact us and find out more about how we can offer you protection, patient-centric care and more efficient workflow.
