How New Processes are Overtaking PACS
The medical community, including medical IT, is constantly on the search for versatility. The introduction of new
technology can be somewhat of a challenge when the older systems are still being paid off, yet advancements often lead to better patient outcomes. For the medical imaging community, dealing with PACS shortcomings seems to be a common topic today. However, newer processes and solutions are available and they necessitate a new position on traditional PACS in the medical space.
In fact, some healthcare professionals are predicting the end to PACS as we know it today. Donald Dennison, from the SIIM Board of Directors, said at a conference recently that PACS would be phased out in a short three years from now. The debate goes on as to whether this can possibly happen, especially as some providers are considering upgrading to a new PACS, which is a costly and time-consuming task.
While there is no consensus that PACS will soon be dead, there is a well-accepted agreement that PACS definitely needs to be reconsidered in the workplace. Some would refer to it as an evolution or perhaps maturation. The modern radiology department is being thought of less as a file closet for medical images and more of a cog in the wheel of patient management. In fact, many would say that PACS aren’t supposed to be thought of as belonging solely to radiology departments, because every department needs access to the images stored in them.
What few professionals consider when they think of medical images is the merger and acquisition market, or M&A. Billions of dollars are at stake each year as business owners buy and sell parts of entire businesses. One of the most active industries in the M&A market is healthcare. An important aspect of a successful M&A is in the ability to integrate. PACS have to be taken into account in this process, because it’s all about information flowing freely from one entity to another. The value of an institution could be adversely affected if the PACS gets in the way.
Another reason healthcare providers are rethinking the way they process medical images is due to a call to bring an improved sense of patient care to the forefront. Providers need to be held accountable, and they’re turning to technological improvements to improve customer service and bring patients the services they demand. The traditional way of thinking where PACS are concerned is lacking in this call for more accountability and better, proactive patient care.
Increasingly, providers are looking to vendor neutral processes and cloud computing to gain more flexibility with how they store and access their medical images. The best way to gain these efficiencies is through vendors that offer a VNA solution in the cloud, placing no barrier between the originating provider and those who also need access to the images, whether it’s another department or entirely separate facility.
OffSite Image Management, Inc. is offering these solutions right now. We’re actively assisting new clients everyday, helping them remove the shackles of their traditional PACS. Contact us today and we’ll discuss options for your facility.