Data is the lifeblood of any high-functioning organization, and for healthcare providers relying on images, which represent large files, data storage becomes a major topic.
Accessibility is the number one priority where imaging data is concerned, which is why accessibility/availability matters so much in healthcare. However, it’s not something that comes easily for so many providers who work with multiple disparate PACS. This poses a problem on multiple levels, but most dramatically for patients waiting on the advice of doctors.
Cloud Accessibility
Data storage solutions need to account for safely handling and storing images and image-related data. Electronic patient health information is standard these days, so if your means of storing this information are not reliable, vulnerable to cyber attack or just generally not accessible, you could be setting yourself up for failure.
Cloud-based data storage solutions have grown in popularity. While the healthcare community was slow to warm to this method of data storage due to security concerns, cloud-based imaging solutions are widely accepted today as a safe, budget-friendly and accessible platform for storing images.
With the right data storage solution in place, patients benefit because their caretakers have easy access to images that help confirm a diagnosis, as well as plan out a course of treatment. And while that’s the #1 goal for healthcare providers, there are other benefits.
Cloud Benefits
Keeping everyone happy in the workplace should be the goal of most employers, because a “happy” workplace is almost always a more productive one. It’s widely known that radiologists are susceptible to burnout, often due to poor workflow. Burnout leads to poor work performance at best and a high turnover rate at worst.
By simply providing a higher-functioning data storage solution, radiologists can realize a much more efficient workflow, making their jobs easier and giving them the tools they need to succeed rather than constantly struggle.
Another benefit is that with cloud-based solutions, there are no on-premise issues to grapple with. For example, rather than dedicating hours and hours of IT tasks to on-site server maintenance and management or software upgrades, all of that is taken on by the vendor of the cloud-based storage solution.
Finally, there is also a cost-benefit. When managing an on-premise storage solution, there is a lot of physical space involved, energy costs to keep the servers cool and the constant maintenance and updating of software and hardware, which is expensive.
When you partner with a company like OffSite Image Management, you get cloud-based services that are customized to your liking, whether it’s a storage solution, teleradiology solution or PACS/VNA services. Find out more about how we bring top-notch radiology storage solutions to our customers and help them meet their goals.
