Article By Lindsey,
For many years, the motivating factors that promote changes in the healthcare industry have been reduced costs and positive patient outcomes. Digital imaging and different forms of communications have been standardized in the medicine field ever since the early 1990s. Due to these changes, most innovations in the healthcare industry have been led by radiology in order to achieve positive results for patients.
As a result of the shift to enterprise imaging , it is the ideal time for the radiology experts to take over again. Enterprise Imaging entails capturing, transmitting, reading, storing, viewing, and managing all images and any form of image data received from all departments in a medical organization. All the images acquired from radiology, dermatology, and cardiology are taken through the enterprise imaging procedure.
Up to the year 2016, so many improvements have been made. However, a lot of work still needs to be done to improve quality and patient coverage. The primary goal of interoperability is to focus on reach. However, adaptation to the enterprise wide imaging has managed to minimize most of the barriers in the medical facilities and increase the ability to share data widely.
Once radiology groups adopt an architecture that is forward-leaning and neutral on vendors, the increase in interoperability is able to mitigate all the challenges and productivity improved. Additionally, making use of cloud-based technologies eliminates the need for a massive outlay of capital while at the same time improving patient care and the productivity of physicians.
Nowadays, the US government manages to implement mandates in regards to interoperability and patient results. The groups that do manage to implement specific programs are given cash rewards, while fines are issued to the ones that did not provide good results.
Noncompliance
All healthcare imaging professionals are required to carry out advanced imaging studies by January 1, 2017. It is the responsibility of clinicians to ensure that the correct procedure is done by the right physician at the right time.
The main aim of the initiative is to reduce unnecessary costs and improve patient outcomes. As a physician, it is better to comply with the new legislation so as to avoid noncompliance issues. Additionally, noncompliance puts medical professionals at the risk of losing their practice licenses.
The more medicine moves toward interoperability and excellent connectivity, the more radiology groups need to be in charge of everything so as to prepare for more advancement in the future.
Building Custom Systems
Today’s radiologists face multiple challenges. Some of these challenges include managing many contracts, administrating pacs, effective distribution of work, and delivering reports in good time. The introduction of dictation systems have led to the radiology groups time wastage and reduced productivity every time the system needs hardware and software updates. In some situations where there is a problem with connectivity, systems refuse to integrate. As a result, radiology groups are forced to turn down prospective business. In an era full of competition, no radiology group can afford to lose clients because of technologies that are outdated.
For these radiology groups, building their system is the best option because it gives them creative freedom. However, the maintenance of their platform may become too expensive to offer them the flexibility that they need.
Best Integration
As the cloud-based and vendor-neutral technologies continue to evolve, they have enabled groups to be fast, cost-efficient, and be able to customize their workflows easily. The cloud-based approach has also allowed radiology groups to prepare themselves for the upcoming changes in enterprise imaging and technology in general. Annual charges and capital investment costs of about $1 million have been avoided due to the solutions offered. Finally, the cloud-based solutions have made it possible for the groups to manage contracts and monitor quality. The groups are also relieved of the costs of hardware, software, and IT infrastructure.
Conclusion
Enterprise imaging is the source of an interoperable healthcare system that brings together the service providers and patients to ensure that the results produced are positive. Due to emerging changes in the healthcare industry, all providers need excellent internet connectivity to keep up with the changes.
