Medical Imaging Solutions Are Going Offsite
Out with the old, in with the new. It’s a relevant phrase for many topics, including medical
imaging solutions. Physical media related to medical imaging, including images burned on to CDs, are giving way to cloud-based services.
The healthcare industry, highly regulated and severely penalized for violations regarding patient privacy, was reluctant to adopt cloud-based services, and perhaps for good reason. However, the trepidation surrounding the adoption of solutions in the cloud has subsided and healthcare professionals are taking advantage of the perks that are found there.
Despite the growth and acceptance of cloud imaging solutions, some providers are still attached to onsite solutions. The difference is that those with onsite preferences are excited about vendor neutral archiving (VNA), and some are considering a hybrid solution where some onsite preferences are retained while the cloud is allowed to play a small role in image management, mostly for backing up data. With the regulations regarding electronic health records, providers’ hands are basically tied when it comes to holding off on going to the cloud.
Gaining more control over medical images is just one of the perks that can be realized once you steer away from the PACS vendor that charges you every time you need to migrate data. With the cloud, all of your medical images are stored on secure servers that allow you to manage your images. Thanks to the advent of VNA architecture, PACS and cloud solutions are working together to bring more efficiencies to your workflow and business continuity strategies.
Some are referring to the inclusion of VNA with PACS as “PACS 3.0.” With PACS 3.0, the healthcare industry is looking to gain a more comprehensive solution. With the foundation being VNA, PACS 3.0 will allow for advanced image visualization, and providers will benefit from taking more ownership of their data. The best cloud-based vendors are making this autonomy a standard part of the package, and at a low cost that offers more flexibility when it comes to growth.
But just how excited is the medical imaging community about PACS 3.0? Peer60, a research and marketing company, found in one of its studies that 26 percent of imaging departments surveyed said they are most excited about cloud-based image sharing solutions. Around 16 percent said they were planning on making investments on solutions that include VNA.
Providers are experiencing some growing pains as they adopt VNA, but it’s mostly due to a misunderstanding about what “true” VNA actually is. With true VNA, you’re able to work with DICOM data as well as non-DICOM imaging. Furthermore, the best vendors are also addressing the needs of providers who need to archive HL7 data.
OffSite Image Management, Inc. is helping to establish the foundation of how cloud-imaging services should operate. We’ve addressed the needs of clients small and large, and we continue to work with rural providers who are short on resources, yet need the same level of quality service as larger providers. Contact us today and let’s discuss your needs.