Ensuring efficient, quality patient care decision-making in today's healthcare environment is critical for physicians.
Patient data must be at their fingertips to use for effective information-based decision making. Yet at many hospitals, health systems, or other provider organizations, integration of these systems has become a challenge and few organizations have been able to overcome the challenge of efficient interoperability.
Radiology can offer provider organizations quick wins for cross-enterprise interoperability in healthcare. Radiology departments play a critical role as healthcare systems strive to become value-based care systems. Radiology crosses nearly all diseases and service lines, touching the majority of patients. Furthermore, radiology images and reports are critical components of a patient's electronic health record (EHR). Additionally, most radiology facilities incorporate digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) protocols and health level seven (HL7) messaging. This creates a foundation for integrating data from radiology information systems (RIS) and picture archive and communication systems (PACS) into other programs. The problem is integrating these systems into already existing EHR systems and finding an accessible solution.
Three Considerations for Integrating PACS and EHR:
- Plan for flexible and customizable solutions
- Minimize workflow disruptions
- Cloud-based capability
Plan for flexible and customizable solutions
Most hospitals and health systems have several PACS and RIS. Each system will need to interact with the EHR in the hospital, the outpatient facilities, and the referring practices. Consider an integration solution that is flexible and customizable to connect multiple vendors, as well as disparate and legacy systems both inside and outside the organization.
Minimize workflow disruptions
Effective integration requires minimal downtime and minimal disruption to workflows in care delivery. Integration solutions should take into account current infrastructure and established care workflows so the transition is as seamless as possible.
Cloud-based capability
The healthcare sector is discovering what the financial services industry has known: the power of cloud computing from its agility to its ability to harness costs, without compromising data security. A cloud-based healthcare strategy can reduce costs and improve clinical performance. Scalability and flexibility to address changing needs on an ongoing basis are also primary drivers. Plus, the cloud is key when connecting physicians with clinical data.
Healthcare organizations should look for solutions that provide adaptable solutions that are flexible, mobile, and customizable. Radiology departments are a great place to begin when implementing technology solutions because of how they touch the majority of patients. Technology that can address integration of data from RIS, PACS, and other programs into an already existing EHR while providing cloud-based capability and minimal workflow disruptions are the best solutions as organizations move toward value-based care.
Eric has been in the healthcare industry for over 24 years. With his experience within the inpatient, outpatient and vendor side of healthcare it provides him with a unique perspective to understand the complex issues facing healthcare facilities today. As one of the original employees of IDS, he has been involved in over one hundred implementations of healthcare IT solutions, including sales, product management, and training, support and account management responsibilities.
The views, opinions and positions expressed within these guest posts are those of the author alone and do not represent those of Becker's Hospital Review/Becker's Healthcare. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The copyright of this content belongs to the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with them.