OffSite Rural Medical Imaging
The challenges that rural hospitals face continue to be many. Some hospital administrators say they
don’t see a light at the end of the tunnel, especially as so many rely on Medicare reimbursements, which have been declining for hospitals that don’t meet certain standards. Can technological solutions in medical imaging assist in solving the problem?
Some experts are putting the blame solely on the Affordable Care Act, offering that under the Act’s provisions, Medicare has raised payment rates to more than 1,200 hospitals and another 1,400-plus hospitals are pulling in less Medicare reimbursements than they have in the past.
Regardless of why reimbursements are declining, rural hospital IT personnel are eyeing various solutions that involve cloud computing. In fact, the Wall Street Journal reported in 2013 that 15 percent of healthcare organizations were using cloud computing to archive medical imaging. The reasons are many:
- Scalable solutions that fit the budget of even the smallest providers
- Secure storage
- Business continuity solutions
- Data backup provisions that provide near 100 percent uptime
- VNA architecture for total shareability
- DICOM-ready
The Wall Street Journal also reported that in just a couple of years, nearly three-quarters of healthcare providers will be utilizing cloud storage for their medical imaging. The advantages are many and more providers are seeking out vendors to provide the solutions they need. What should you look for in a vendor?
- On-demand services that don’t disrupt host operations, and uncapped storage potential
- 24/7 access to images through any type of workstation, from desktop to mobile device
- Unlimited scaling of services, up or down
- HIPAA compliant services with encryption technology for the best security assurances
- Upload and exchange data, regardless of the radiology service provider
- Technology that doesn’t only store data, but allows for sharing
- Health image exchange portal
To get the rural providers through the cost crunch, they need access to technology that doesn’t burst the budget. There are also patient care qualities to consider, including reduced exposure to radiation, increased patient treatment outcome, and better satisfaction scores from patients. When partnered with the right provider, you can reduce the number of repeat exams, which means less radiation exposure to the patient and to the staff. Furthermore, reduced repeat exams also improve the possibility of fast and efficient diagnoses.
Providers just want to get the right images to the right location, whether it’s across the hall to a different department or across state lines to a different provider. Providers require a 360-degree solution that allows them to leverage image routing and automate their workflow.
OffSite Image Management, Inc., is that provider that offers a full view of solutions. We specialize in assisting the rural provider with quality solutions that improve patient care and outcomes. Contact us today and we’ll discuss our approach to solutions for you.