Health systems are generating more patient data than ever. With disease progression, each patient’s “data footprint” increases over time, increasing the total amount of data, which must be managed by the appropriate agencies (mostly healthcare providers).
Large amounts of data are inherently difficult to manage, but large amounts of data also mean that better analytical results can be obtained, which is necessary for lower cost and better patient outcomes. Consequently, there is a high demand for data management platforms in healthcare and related industries to efficiently store, retrieve, consolidate and display data.
A Vendor Neutral File (VNA) is an integral component of modern health data management. A VNA is a storage solution software that can store clinically relevant images, documents, and other files in a standard format with a standard interface.
Data stored in a VNA can be freely accessed by other systems, regardless of the manufacturers of those systems. This interoperability is a hallmark of any VNA system. The term “Neutral” in the acronym VNA has huge implications, as it makes the data stored in VNA platform independent. VNAs facilitate data exchange throughout the healthcare system, facilitating communication between departments. They allow imaging physicians to use software that integrates images with the EHR to help make better-informed diagnoses.Cloud PACS system
A VNA can also help make data more secure. VNAs that use cloud-based storage can offer better recovery options than a local-only solution. Even if local files are damaged or destroyed, the data remains intact in a safe location via a cloud server.
Another hidden benefit of NPVs is the reduction in administrative costs. Fewer systems and fewer access points mean less overhead for the IT department. And there is no need to migrate data when systems are upgraded or replaced, a resource-intensive procedure. VNAs potentially offer lower storage costs, compared to separate PACS systems, also throughout the healthcare system. VNAs can use information lifecycle management applications to automatically move older data to less expensive long-term storage, keeping only the most used data on higher-cost, fast-access media.
The implementation of a VNA is a major change in the operating procedures of a health system. This change can uncover a multitude of opportunities to increase efficiency, optimize workflows, and reduce costs.
PACS
Modern diagnostic practices generate an enormous amount of imagery and pictorial data. PACS stands for Picture Archive and Communication System. The primary goal of PACS is to simplify image management related to patient monitoring throughout treatment and recovery. Modern radiology practices involve digital imaging. Therefore, for the purposes of interoperability, a standard is required, which is identified by all interested parties and accepted as a standard.
The case in question is DICOM, which stands for Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine. PACS that adhere to DICOM standards are better suited to digital image data generated through medical devices purchased from different vendors. In other words, DICOM-compliant PACS have better interoperability and broader coverage for storing and processing different types of digital images generated through various medical procedures.
Conventional benefits of PACS include deduplication, quick access to patient images and reports, remote sharing of patient data and reports within an organization or with other organizations, and establishing a timeline in the radiology results of the patients, to facilitate comparison with previous studies in the same or other patients.
