The importance of sharing information in the healthcare industry is such that Health Level 7 (HL7), a conglomeration of healthcare professionals in 55 countries, has been created to help establish the standard format for exchanging data. Archiving structured data (HL7) is a priority. Archive refers to a long-term data storage subsystem, which is increasingly important today with compliance measures that include data is secure and always available. Furthermore, archiving today is also considered a subsystem for a PACS.
Where archiving structured data (HL7) is concerned, providers are looking for interoperability more than they ever have as the national health IT policy laid out by the Office of the National Coordinator focuses on creating an electronic health information structure that reaches nationwide. The goal is to reduce medical errors while improving clinical performance, something every provider is also focused on providing their patients.
Archiving structured data (HL7) priorities have shifted to include how health data needs to be exchanged. The opinions on this matter differ, one side taking a legacy approach while the other is keener to take up the web approach. In the legacy approach to the situation, providers look toward legacy systems that operate in closed networks, which makes visibility from system to system difficult at best.
When transferring information done via a text file, the standard has been HL7. In the web approach, providers are looking toward web applications to share information. There is a push, called Developer Challenge, to get developers to start thinking about ways to make apps more user friendly for health IT.
Web-based health IT is viewed as an emerging technology, yet it is also a promising one as providers increasingly take on vendor neutral archiving technology that will allow them to use the Web in an efficient, yet cost effective method. This is of particular value to rural providers that struggle to keep the edge where technology is concerned, not only because of the costs associated, but also because of the lack of IT professionals in the rural areas.
Health IT professionals are on the lookout for true vendor neutral archive systems that provide context management abilities, including the ability to prepare a PACS through HL7 for the exchange of images from disparate PACS.
OffSite Image Management, Inc. has embraced the web-based health IT approach and has developed solutions that enable a larger array of options for providers, including those in the rural areas. From statewide health image exchanges to its Virtual CD solution that eradicates the need for CD burning technology, OffSite helps providers develop or keep their edge and offer patients better care.