More radiology professionals and administrators are using PACS for digital imaging than ever before, especially in the cloud. In fact, the entire electronic picture archiving and communication systems industry (PACS) is undergoing a change toward cloud PACS. The medical information division of IMV, a consulting firm that specializes in medical technology, confirmed the change in a recent publication.
According to the IMV report, PACS have become the single most essential tool that radiologists work with. There has become an increasing need for image processing and there is more need for those results to be processed quickly and stored securely in a place that can also allow quick access to them. Increasingly, the cloud is the most efficient place to turn as the industry considers cloud PACS.
Why are Medical Practices Choosing Cloud PACS?
– PACS have been part of the medical industry since the early 1980s. The technology really took off in the early 1990s when a British physicist acquired government funding to replace film with new PACS technologies.
– The images provided through the technology have become more useful to the medical community, and with the Baby Boomers seeking out more consultation as they enter their golden years, health officials are seeking out better storage solutions for these images.
– Cloud PACS are a natural solution as cloud technology has improved as much as PACS technology.
Hospitals with more than 100 beds have almost certainly turned to PACS for their digital imaging needs. Most of these institutions are already working on upgraded equipment. According to the IMV report, around 73 percent of medical institutions are considering an upgrade to existing hardware and software. Some of these institutions are also considering moving to a cloud PACS model.
These upgrades include investing in archives, software for visualization on PACS hardware including desktops, radiology information systems, integration with other systems and cardiology PACS. Hospitals and medical centers that haven’t embraced PACS are difficult to find today. Not only have most embraced these technologies, a good majority are planning for the future, which includes cloud PACS.
Administrators said in the IMV report that the biggest investments they are making in their change strategies include investing more efforts into more efficient image storage and visualization enterprises. This includes utilizing better image processing and storage beyond basic radiology. Better storage solutions, upgrading hardware, improving network and bandwidth limitation, wireless networking options and better visualization software are all part of the plan for many medical institutions across the nation.
According to the report, around 85 percent of hospitals with more than 100 beds have installed PACS equipment in locations outside of the main hospital, which would explain why there is a need for better wireless networking and bandwidth. More than 90 percent of these hospitals have integrated their PACS systems across platforms.
OffSite Image Management, Inc., has turn-key solutions that meet just about any PACS requirement hospitals are demanding, including cloud PACS options. When adopting the OffSite solution, hospitals don’t have to hassle with upgrading workstations or worry about administration issues – OffSite does all the work.
OffSite is an industry leader in radiology and DICOM images and also offers a comprehensive PACS solution, including short-term storage and longer-term storage needs, disaster recovery solutions and IT support. Contact the team at Offsite Image Management today.