It’s no secret that the medical imaging industry changes at a rapid pace. As every advancement hits the market, medial specialists are better able to care for their patients. However, when it comes to routing images, many facilities still suffer due to compatibility issue.
One of the advancements that have helped control the issues facilities have with routing images is vendor neutral archiving, or VNA. For organizations looking to improve their picture archiving and communication system (PACS), a little strategy is needed and it must include VNA.
Organizations need to know how a new PACS will benefit them now and far into the future. Migrating information is a time consuming process, so you want to do it as few times as possible. When you consolidate all of your medical images into one archive, you’re going to save yourself time and you’re going to gain easier access to your data.
The problem with a single PACS system is that it lacks in functionality and the problems departments have with conforming to a single workflow type. Most departments would be happier with their own PACS, which they would set up to run as they please. In fact, there aren’t any vendors creating PACS that work across every healthcare department. However, a VNA solution puts these challenges to rest. If you’re concerned that bringing in a VNA will require you to change out your workstations, don’t be concerned. Keep your current station and gain interoperability and consolidation of image archives, even across disparate PACS.
The advantages of going with VNA for routing images are evident, as the demand for VNA solutions has increased. Part of the reason for that demand is that you get DICOM storage, enterprise image viewing enablement, storage neutral infrastructure, departmental awareness, DICOM normalization and many other advantages. One of the best perks comes in the form of archive management, which some might say is VNA’s focal point or core competency.
For those facilities that are converting to a new PACS, VNA can help inform your new PACS about patient image data that is already being stored in an archive. Radiologists want to the ability to access image data without going through the PACS, which is possible with VNA. They also want to be able to pull up historical image data and place it in the current PACS without having to worry about the original PACS, which is also possible with VNA. Finally, radiologists and cardiologists want the ability to auto-route images to the best site or depart or PACS, which is also possible with VNA.
OffSite Image Management, Inc., has embraced VNA. For rural facilities that have long been asking too much of their over-burdened PACS, an offsite solution involving VNA is the key to survival. Not only are they getting connected with an affordable solution that offers quality service, patients are getting better care because of it. If you’re considering an offsite solution for your medical imaging, contact OffSite today.