The latest advances in technology have made it much easier to share medical image data
Key Takeaways:
- The use of CDs to share patient CT scans or MRIs is a thing of the past
- New technologies have made sharing of medical images much simpler and more economical
- There are digital solutions now available that can make patients’ medical images easily accessible to authorized personnel on any device anywhere
- Share XR is a state-of-the-art medical imaging sharing technology that offers a secure platform for wide-scale digital collaboration
Most medical and radiology facilities are familiar with the toil of using CDs for sharing patient’s medical images. The use of CDs is not only a painstaking process but an expensive one as well. Also, different systems for medical image data storage have reduced the shareability factor due to their non-integration. However, recent technological advancements can make the sharing process not only convenient but also inexpensive.
Let’s have a look at the drawbacks of CD-based sharing and non-integrated systems and how encrypted cloud-based technologies can be used to make medical imaging data easily shareable.
CD-based medical image data sharing
Most radiologists are familiar with the term DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine). DICOM is a standardized medical imaging data format that ensures high-quality image data. However, sharing DICOM images is not as simple as sharing a word .doc or .jpeg file.
DICOM images are stored on a platform called Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS). The traditional method of sharing DICOM images is to copy them from the PACS server to CDs. However, this process brought a fair share of problems associated with it.
Using CDs to share DICOM images incurs considerable costs. There is not only the cost of the blank CDs to account for, but also the cost of the software that goes with the CDs and the time it takes to do the copying. If you have to ship the CDs to the patient, that translates into even more costs. Hospitals can end up spending up to $15 per CD and as much as $100,000 on couriers.
Additionally, CDs are also prone to be lost or get scratches, which can render them useless. CDs can also be write-protected, which means that patients are unable to copy their own medical data.
Non-integrated Systems
Many medical facilities have different medical imaging data storage systems installed, and these may not be compatible with each other. This also makes them unable to communicate with each other. This lack of interoperability brings a lot of problems when it comes to sharing and accessing data over different non-integrated platforms.
These problems become even more pronounced in a radiology setting. There is different equipment at play in the radiology department and the medical scans usually have to be sent to a different location for expert opinions.
What are the novel solutions?
Technological advancements have ushered new solutions to the problems that most radiology facilities face.
Online access
There are online services that allow users to upload medical imaging data to secure online platforms. The uploaded data can then be shared with any concerned person who has authorized credentials.
Patients can use online access services to share their data with other experts for a second opinion. Also, these services give the patient the option to have a better view of their CT scans or MRIs, which enables them to gain an improved understanding of their conditions.
Online medical imaging services make it easier for both clinicians and patients to share medical image data. The service removes any need of transferring the data to CDs and hence significantly reduces sharing costs.
Radiology dashboard
A recent case study showed that having a radiology dashboard at a medical facility can significantly cut imaging costs.
This data-sharing approach can utilize features such as patient satisfaction and quality metrics. The service provides access to peer-comparison data and imaging that leads to a considerable reduction in all imaging-related costs.
Cloud-based PACS
Cloud-based PACS platforms, like Share XR, have proven to be very effective in solving the medical image data sharing and system integration problem. It provides a convenient and cost-effective solution that is easy to implement.
With a cloud-based PACS, you have a primary storage functionality that does not need additional backup software.
Cloud technology offers wide-ranging accessibility, which means medical images can be accessed from anywhere at any time. The technology also reduces costs by eliminating the need for CDs and hardware.
Sharing medical image data via the cloud is done through secure, HIPAA-compliant servers. You can only access data on the cloud through authorized credentials, which ensures the patient’s data remains safe.
Share XR
Share XR is a set of cloud-based technologies that uniquely allows smooth communication for sharing large data files like CT scans and MRIs. It provides an inexpensive medical imaging data-sharing solution that can work on any device.
Share XR allows the sharing of files from PACS, local folder, or shared drive. The shared data uses an internal secure gateway in the cloud. It is also HIPPA compliant, and easy to install.
The Share XR technology can be your one-stop answer to all your medical imaging data sharing needs. For more information about how Share XR could revolution your DICOM management, contact DICOM Director today.
