While the needs of one imaging center or radiology department might differ from another, when it comes to adopting solutions such as vendor neutral archiving (VNA), there are some common themes in regard to benefits realized.
Given the complexities of managing patient data, including imaging – an area that has witnessed increasing demands – any technology that can be implemented to ease the process is important for improved patient care. However, implementing the right data isn’t always accomplished, especially with a VNA solution, as many vendors have loose definitions of what VNA actually is.
Points of Value
There are some key commonalities experienced by providers who implement the right VNA solution. They include the following points of value:
- Easy Viewing
This is critical. Prior to implementing a VNA solution, viewing images for medical professionals often involved sitting at a dedicated viewer. VNA allows you to look at images through a web-based viewer, which means you can utilize the most popular browsers and see the images regardless of where you are. This ability is a gamechanger for most healthcare professionals who have always felt tied to their proprietary viewer. - Image Lifecycle Management
Looking to manage data in perpetuity? A VNA solution can bring you that possibility. PACS don’t have a lifecycle management solution, which means the only way to get that ability is to go with VNA. Image lifecycle management does more than just identify data; you can use it to create tiers of storage that help you reduce costly archiving expenditures. - Simplified Storage
Rather than relying on multiple silos of data where information has to be pulled from, VNA’s obvious advantage is its central storage architecture. Storage is consolidated, which means the lack of siloed data brings the entire facility together and reduces bottlenecks, roadblocks and any other traditional hurdles that interrupt workflow. - Migration Cost Advantages
Migrating data isn’t only time-consuming and tedious, it is also costly. You can save on these costs in the future through a VNA solution, which isn’t vendor-dependent when it is time to migrate data again. If you go through a system replacement, your VNA solution will give you control of your data, which makes the task much easier and less expensive.
The radiology departments that get improved services work with VNA solutions from vendors who support DICOM and non-DICOM content. They are also providing the tools that can aggregate query results from disparate PACS. That’s what we offer at OffSite Image Management. Our VNA solution is browser agnostic and is hardware independent. If you’re looking for VNA that has automatic RIS updates, contact us, and let’s talk about how our VNA solution can help you serve your patients better.