Image Management 101. Understanding Cloud PACS for the Private Practice. A Publication by DICOM Grid

Transcription

1 Understanding Cloud PACS for the Private Practice A Publication by DICOM Grid

2 DICOM Grid simplifies medical image management and exchange. Using our solutions, medical practices like yours have transformed the way they manage medical images in order to improve collaboration and patient safety while reducing costs. Improve Interoperability: Connect patients, care providers, and facilities Reduce Cost: Minimize unnecessary duplicate radiation procedures Save Time: Improve productivity and stop waiting to receive images Grow Network: Accept imaging information from out-of-network facilities Key Features Image Share CD Ingestion Image Transfer VNA/Storage Workflow Automation Mobile Viewing Talk to a product specialist to see how DICOM Grid can help you. Request Demo

3 Table of Contents Introduction...4 What is a Cloud PACS...5 When should you consider a Cloud solution for your practice?...6 Why opt for a Cloud PACS?...7 Make waves with Cloud PACS...9 What if you already have a PACS? Conclusion...12 Case Studies

4 Introduction Everyone who works at an image-intensive specialty practice has one thing in common: the need for on-demand access to diagnostic studies. Whether you re an office administrator viewing a study burned onto a disc, a radiologist retrieving a prior from an archive, or a surgeon pulling up an exam in the OR, having the right image, at the right place and time is a business and clinical necessity. Let s preface by saying that this is not an ebook about software. Repeat, this is not an ebook about software. It s more than that. Rather, it s a document about how to strategize your practice s image management approach to yield a competitive advantage. A lot of moving pieces and elements go into building out a successful image management program. At the same time, we know that you are very busy and only looking for the information that you absolutely need to know. So yes, we will discuss how new technology and software delivery models can give your practice an edge. More importantly, we ll break down the strategic advantages of embracing DICOM Grid s cloud image management philosophy and what a Cloud PACS can do for you as clearly and as briefly as possible. Who should read this? If you are reading this, it s probably because you re looking into purchasing your first PACS or you want to replace your current setup. You may have heard the term Cloud PACS and are wondering how it differentiates from a traditional PACS. Or maybe this topic is completely foreign to you. Either way, this ebook is for you. First, what is a Cloud PACS? Let s start there

5 What is a Cloud PACS? A Cloud PACS shares many similarities with a traditional PACS. The main difference is that rather than the hardware being located and managed in your facility, everything is hosted off-site in a centrally managed data center. To access studies with a Cloud PACS users simply log in to a browser-based interface. A Cloud PACS is a solution that falls under the umbrella term of Cloud image management. Although many people use Cloud PACS and Cloud image management interchangeably, the latter is a broader term that can encompass a variety of other web-based point solutions for handling imaging. More on that topic to come! For now, let s explore a few basic topics that cover when and why? Traditional PACS VPN CT MR CT MR Location 1 Location 2 Cloud PACS Data Center Storage Patient viewing study upload Gateway Gateway CT MR CT MR Location 1 Location 2 What about Security? In the medical world, security is where the rubber meets the road. In order to keep imaging secure in a Cloud environment, Cloud PACS vendors must comply with robust standards involving physical security, end-to-end encryption, user management, and auditing

6 When should you consider a Cloud solution for your practice? When it comes to image management, your current scenario probably falls into one of the four categories below. 1. We need a PACS You are a new practice looking to invest in your first image management solution. 2. We need a new PACS You are in the market for a new image management solution. 3. Our PACS needs more functionality Your practice already owns a PACS but needs more capabilities such as image sharing, zero-footprint web viewing, etc. 4. We need a backup PACS archive Your practice owns a PACS but needs a disaster recovery plan. When should you consider a Cloud PACS? Simple, if you re looking to invest in a new image management system you should be looking at Cloud solutions as an alternative to traditional PACS. Or, if you need to extend the functionality of your current setup with additional features you may consider Cloud solutions as a PACS supplement

7 Why opt for a Cloud PACS? Is the question what s in it for me a subconscious mantra playing loudly in the back of your mind as you read this? It should be! It s the most important question to be asking. Upon first reading, the differences between a Cloud PACS and a traditional PACS may seem simple on paper. In one scenario, the data is hosted off-site and in the other, it is hosted in-house. But, that s not the only differentiator. Another distinction is the software delivery model. Cloud PACS are provided as a Software as a Service. SaaS Definition: Software delivery model where software and associated data are centrally hosted in the Cloud. SaaS solutions are typically accessed by users using a thin client or a web browser. Software-as-a-Service, or SaaS for short, is a delivery model that has clear advantages for the private practice and makes a compelling case for the Cloud. 1 Advantage #1: The Cost/Payment Structure of SaaS Shift from CapEx to Opex: One way of controlling expenses is to lower standing costs and replace them with discretionary costs. With a Cloud PACS you don t need to purchase expensive hardware and/or infrastructure to get up and running. Shifting from a capital expenditure (CapEx) to an operational expenditure (OpEx) reduces the upfront investment in hardware and infrastructure. Pay-as-you-go: Rather than paying once and riding off into the sunset (only to be hit with additional charges for maintenance and upgrades down the road), a Cloud PACS payment model is subscription based. This means that users pay a set rate every month. The inherit benefit of pay-as-you-go is that it creates a predictable cost structure and allows you to budget without any hidden costs. Reduction in total cost of ownership: The underlying advantage of a SaaS payment model is to reduce the total cost of ownership for your image management ecosystem. Because the Cloud PACS provider maintains the hardware off-site, the implementation fees, maintenance, upgrades, user and IT support, and data storage costs can be significantly reduced if not eliminated entirely

8 2 Advantage #2: The Service Aspect of SaaS Support: If you re practice is a small-scale operation, you probably run a tight ship. You may be the head surgeon of your clinic, but more often than not you re also the finance department, marketing department and the IT-guy. Realistically, your time could be better spent on activities that don t involve configuring networks and managing hardware updates. But do you know who has the time to be the IT guy? The professionally trained personnel employed by your Cloud PACS provider, that s who! As part of the Software-as-a-Service model it is their responsibility to keep your system in tip top-shape around the clock. Painless Upgrades: Another eye opening comparison between Cloud PACS and traditional PACS are how upgrades are handled. In a Cloud environment, new features and functionality can be rolled into your account automatically and seamlessly. Usually, upgrades occur on a pre-scheduled date/time to ensure that you are always running the latest version of the At DICOM Grid, we believe in the service aspect of SaaS whole-heartedly, which is why each and every customer is teamed up with a dedicated account manager and 24/7 support. Our experienced support staff is on call to help with any questions that arise. software. Alternatively, on-premises solutions differ in that the upgrades typically involve patches, and will require new hardware and installed software over time. Seamless Integration: The flexibility of cloud architecture makes it easy to bridge the gaps between the technologies that are already in use at your organization. A few widely adopted examples include connecting DICOM devices using a gateway. A gateway allows you to seamlessly move studies between both modalities and viewers within the walls of your facility and beyond. Another example is to pull reports from your RIS and update PHI or send messages to your EMR using an HL7 feed. DICOM Grid is one of few imaging providers to integrate with EMRs. By generating contextual imaging links and embedding them into the patient record, doctors can view studies directly from the EMR/EHR. Interactive Guide: How to Image-Enable the EMR Experience first-hand how seamless integration makes diagnostic studies accessible within the patient record

9 Make waves with Cloud PACS Now that you know the basics of a Cloud PACS, when you should consider one, and how it can help your practice, let s talk strategy. Stepping back and looking at the big picture, imaging is being impacted by a number of changing healthcare trends and regulations that promote collaboration and real-time information sharing. The result is that both patients and providers are seeking ways to exchange information at a faster and more efficient rate than ever before. This is why having an agile framework around image management is becoming both a regulatory and practical requirement in order to compete in the new marketplace. There are many moving parts to an image management strategy, and it would become needlessly complicated to explain in this ebook. Fortunately, we have created a graphical explanation to address many of the pieces. What it boils down to is a fairly simple philosophy which we outline using this handy image: Mission Strategic Pillars Foundations The right image, at the right place, and the right time Workflow PHI Normalization Routing Automation Analytics 3rd Party Integrations Archive Operationalized Lower Cost Disaster Recovery Searchable Scalability Vendor Neutral Software Services Support Viewing Zero-Footprint Viewer Mobile Access Remote Access EMR Integration Collaboration Exchange Web-based Sharing Gateway Technology CD Ingestion Real-time Exchange DICOM Grid s W.A.V.E. Philosophy The W.A.V.E philosophy is DICOM Grid s approach to helping practices develop a comprehensive framework around imaging. By providing a combination of software, services, and support and executing on the four pillars of image management (Workflows, Archiving, Viewing, and Exchange) we help you to ensure the right image is available at the right time and the place. Everything is bundled together into a next generation Cloud PACS solution that addresses all of your image management needs

10 What if you already have a PACS? If you have already invested in a PACS, and it sufficiently handles the majority of your imaging needs, you may want to extend its functionality. You can supplement your current PACS investment with Cloud solutions aimed at solving your specific challenges, such as CD ingestion, image sharing, mobile access, long-term storage, etc. In addition, you may want to consider utilizing a Cloud platform as a form of redundancy to ensure business continuity if your primary PACS goes down. Cloud solutions can help your practice streamline PHI Normalization Standardize the patient identifiers across imaging data being received by outside facilities Image Routing Gateway technology can be used to auto-route imaging to groups of users or DICOM destinations Automation Create workflows to automate activities around PHI normalization, image sharing, etc. Analytics and Audits Get a snapshot of your practices imaging flow and see which users are viewing, sharing, downloading information and more 3rd Party Integrations Integrate imaging with other technologies such as your EMR and RIS Disaster Recovery Implement long-term image storage as part of your business continuity plan Vendor Neutral Archive Create a centrally accessibly and searchable vendor agnostic storage system Mobile Viewing Pull up exams using a viewing application that is specifically optimized for small screens Remote Access Log into your worklist from any device with Internet connectivity Real-Time Collaboration Take advantage of instant image sharing, annotation and reporting tools in a HIPAA safe environment Web-Based Sharing Facilitate real-time image sharing securely across the web CD Ingestion Improve your process around uploading and normalizing incoming exams burned onto physical media

11 What s the bottom line? Image-intensive practices are perfectly positioned to address business and clinical drivers by riding out the Cloud wave. Four examples include: Better Patient Care Streamlined care is one of the most practical benefits of implementing Cloud solutions. Image interoperability is key to delivering better patient care and is becoming a cornerstone topic in today s world of accountable care, HIEs, and mobile health innovations. By breaking down vendor silos and achieving interoperability, Cloud PACS and cloud image management can improve care coordination and clinical outcomes. Process Improvement From reducing the time for staff to burn and mail a CD, to eliminating manual data entry, there are countless examples of how Cloud image management platforms help to improve productivity and save time on unnecessary activities. Grow Network In an increasingly crowded industry, attracting new opportunities for your medical business is crucial to maintaining a competitive edge. One of the surest ways to build out the pipeline is through referrals from physicians and current patients. This requires that an efficient, timely referral process be in place. Having the right tools for transferring information between providers and the recipients of your service are critical for success. A web accessible imaging platform makes it easy for referring doctors to send patient information in real-time, attract new sending sites, and ultimately increase referral volumes. Quality of Life Although very difficult to measure in quantitative terms, technology that can achieve a better work/life balance is important. One of the benefits of implementing a Cloud PACS is mobility and eliminating the need for users to be tethered to a workstation to access imaging and associated data. Cloud platforms help to ensure that imaging data is at the users fingertips. This means that if something comes up during non-clinical hours the information is just a few clicks away. Introduction to Cloud PACS for the Private Practice Join us for an introductory webinar, jam-packed with information about transitioning to the Cloud

12 Conclusion In this ebook we covered a lot of ground - all the basics about Cloud PACS and Cloud image management. Practices around the world are using DICOM Grid as a complete PACS replacement while facilitating image exchange, remote access, second opinion reads, and more. To further shed light on these ideas, please download the case studies on the next page to learn how practices like yours are riding out the Cloud wave. Of course, reading about a concept can only go so far. This is why we invite you to chat with one of our knowledgeable imaging experts to learn how DICOM Grid can help you. Get started by requesting a consultation. Request a Consultation A dedicated product specialist will reach out to you to showcase how DICOM Grid can help you. Request Consultation [email protected] Find us online!

13 Case Studies Advanced Urgent Care puts Medical Images in the Cloud and Improves Time-to-Care Delivery Cloud Medical Image Sharing Transforms Patient Portal and Second Opinion Program Cloud Imaging Software Gives Orthopedic Practice Leg up on Traditional PACS Radiology Practice Improves Medical Image Management Efficiency with DICOM Grid DICOM Grid Partners with Ella Health as Imaging Infrastructure Solution and Helps Transform Women s Wellness