You’re searching for a new PACS system. Where do you start when evaluating PACS system radiology vendors? With so many options, it can get overwhelming fast.
We’ll walk through the 5 most critical factors to assess. Focusing on these key areas will help you select the radiology PACS system vendor that aligns with your needs and budget.
Interoperability Allows Seamless System Integration
Smooth interoperability is imperative for efficient radiology workflow coordination across networks.
As you evaluate vendors, probe the depth of their DICOM conformance statement to understand connection capacities. Also, inquire about any proprietary protocols or formats – these can limit flexibility.
Ideally, your PACS platform should:
- Integrate images from CT, MRI, PET, mammography, ultrasound
- Interface with RIS, EMR, reporting systems
- Enable easy sharing of imaging data between departments and facilities
- Support HL7 and XDS IHE communication protocols
- Provide straightforward APIs for third-party development
Confirm that the vendor can map data into your desired structure and terminology.
Having a truly interoperable foundation will allow you to conveniently aggregate content from diverse sources into unified workflows in the future.
Demand Scalable Storage to Accommodate Growth
Storage needs are expanding exponentially as exam complexity rises. When evaluating vendors, understand their infrastructure’s ability to efficiently adapt long-term.
See if capacities can effortlessly scale into the multi-petabyte range without performance decline or migration hassles. Unlimited storage is ideal. Inquire about predicting future requirements and associated costs.
Also, don’t overlook the importance of physical servers. Will hardware upgrades be seamless as imaging datasets grow?
Can compute capacity expand cost-effectively? Get details on data center locations, redundancies, and disaster recovery provisions too.
By selecting a vendor capable of providing vast, adaptable storage infrastructure, you’ll give your PACS breathing room to manage increasing exam volumes down the road.
Prioritize Mobile Access for Agility
Providing physicians seamless accessibility to imaging data on the move is no longer a luxury – it’s a necessity.
When reviewing vendors, scrutinize their dedicated mobile application capabilities for depth and convenience.
Having intuitive, reliable mobile PACS functionality across iOS and Android unlocks game-changing flexibility for radiologists.
Ideally, support for the following should be baked-in:
- Secure login with MFA
- Lossless full-resolution image viewing
- Multi-touch gestures for magnification, rotation, etc
- Annotation with sketches, arrows, shapes
- Real-time study assignment notifications
- Communication via texts, calls, in-app messaging
- Smooth coordination with desktop application
With feature-packed mobile apps, imaging insights can be accessed and shared instantly anytime, from anywhere. This allows faster reads, consultations, and reporting no matter where physicians are located.
Verify Rigorous Protections Guard Data
Breaches threaten patient privacy and provider reputation. When evaluating vendors, rigorously vett cybersecurity postures.
Ask about specific protocols and controls implemented for:
- Encryption – end-to-end is optimal
- User access management
- Multi-factor authentication
- Audit logging with alerting
- Anti-malware, firewalls
- Vulnerability management
- Disaster recovery
Ideally, the platform should comply with healthcare security frameworks like HITRUST or NIST.
Probe what occurs after an incident – how quickly can systems and data be restored? Are breach response protocols in place? Cyber risks can never be fully eliminated but must be actively guarded against.
By partnering with a vendor invested in data protections, you’ll have assurance that patient information stays shielded from external dangers.
Don’t Overlook Service & Support Capabilities
Even with excellent technology, you need great service backing it up long-term. When comparing vendors, get details on implementation strategies, training depth, and support responsiveness.
Find out if services include:
- Project management guiding setup
- Workflow analysis for customization
- Administrator & clinician education
- Proactive maintenance for smooth operations
- Issue tracking with guaranteed SLAs
- Access to support engineers for troubleshooting
- Guidance optimizing features
Having robust assistance through onboarding and beyond will allow you to get the most from your investment. With attentive experts readily available, your team can resolve hiccups rapidly.
