It's no secret: The U.S. healthcare environment is changing swiftly and dramatically.
Healthcare organizations are steadily moving away from longstanding, traditional fee-for-service models to value-based care and reimbursement models. At the same time, new Medicare policies and initiatives are reducing reimbursement and fostering data sharing. The push is on for interoperability across a developing system of electronic health records that supports health information exchanges (HIEs), accountable care organizations (ACOs) and other similar models.
In the face of such dramatic change, it's becoming essential for healthcare providers to find unique ways to improve efficiency and save money on the front end. One of those ways is to focus on developing and implementing a medical imaging strategy.
Implementing a medical imaging strategy still is considered an uncommon way to improve profitability or achieve cost savings, despite the fact that the digital radiology market is expected to reach $13.3 billion globally by 2018. Medical images play a significant role in virtually every facet of healthcare, so providers able to implement a strategy that provides access to any image across the continuum of care will not just lower their costs and improve care quality, but will also stand to minimize revenue losses and improve profitability.
Imaging strategy components
In today's environment, one of an imaging provider's most important goals must be to provide referring physicians, other providers, and patients with real-time, 24/7 access to any medical image on any approved browser-based device from anywhere in the world. While picture archiving and communications systems (PACS) will remain an important part of their infrastructure, providers must also take steps to make images as easily accessible as possible to these critical stakeholders.
The key to doing so successfully lies in developing a three-pronged strategy consisting of:
- establishing a vendor-neutral archive (VNA);
- receiving images within workflow via a digital image communication in medicine (DICOM) gateway; and
- utilizing a universal image viewer.
Vendor-neutral archive (VNA)
A VNA is essentially a centralized "storage bin" that can be used to save and manage images for multiple sites and specialties. Such an archive converts all DICOM headers into a standard format so that they can be displayed by any DICOM viewer within a healthcare network. This makes images more easily accessible to the network's participating providers.
In addition to its storage capabilities, a VNA also provides a way for providers to find all types of diagnostic images for all of the patients within a given network. Whether it's a weekend warrior's knee MRI scan for an orthopedic surgeon or a heart attack patient's ultrasound scan for a cardiologist, the VNA provides all physicians with single-point access to every patient image. This not only saves time for physicians, it also speeds treatment and reduces the need for repeat imaging for patients.
From an operational standpoint, a VNA also makes it easier and less expensive for healthcare providers to comply with HIPAA and other regulations that require the long-term storage of images as part of a patient's health record, as well as disaster backup and recovery plans. The VNA, in turn, forms an integral first part of a provider's money-saving imaging strategy.
Gateway
The second prong consists of an intelligent DICOM gateway to read incoming studies. For physicians, such gateways replace the risk of loss and other problems that can result from having to provide patients with image CDs.
In contrast to CDs, a gateway can offer the secure convenience of simply dragging and dropping image files onto the gateway's web address. The image is then converted to the native PACS format of the receiving physician, who is then electronically notified of the study's availability for review.
The chief advantage of this kind of gateway is that it does not force physicians to disrupt their normal workflows to retrieve images. As with the VNA, a DICOM gateway also helps patients by reducing redundant medical imaging and the safety risks and extra expense that accompany repeat images.
Universal viewer
The third critical piece of an enterprise imaging strategy is a universal, zero-download DICOM viewer that can be accessed via an embedded link or a stand-alone portal to enable viewing of images on any browser-based electronic device. As its name suggests, a universal viewer permits users to access images on their computers or other approved devices without having to download additional software, apps or scripts.
A strategic approach to the future
As Meaningful Use and other regulatory initiatives take effect - and as market forces swing healthcare toward value-based models of care and reimbursement - a comprehensive imaging strategy like the one described here will become virtually mandatory. Healthcare providers that fail to take such a strategic approach risk decreased profitability. With long-term vision, they can reduce costs and seize the opportunity to strengthen their position and standing in their communities.