How to Choose a PACS Solution for Radiology

Traditionally, radiologists stored patient images and reports manually, just like any other kind of physical record. Not only is such storage prone to physical degradation and damage, but systematic filing and retrieval are also more stressful.

Technology can make life in so many domains easier. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that there is a solution to make filing, organizing, and retrieving patient images as simple as possible: a PACS.

What Is a PACS?

PACS stands for picture archiving and communication system. It can be considered a digital replacement for the physical storage and retrieval of radiological film. The software makes it much easier to access and find patient images when needed.

Using a PACS solution makes working with patient images less stressful for radiologists, and it has a positive impact on both patient care and workflow. Physicians can reference and analyze radiological images for patients much faster. This results in management plans being developed sooner, which is best for the patient.

Important Features for a PACS Solution in Radiology

Radiologists and hospital administrators must be able to make the best decision when it comes to choosing a PACS. Knowing what features are essential can help everyone involved.

Here are things that radiologists and healthcare facilities should look for when it comes to a PACS:

• The best PACS for radiology is one that can be closely integrated with a radiology information system (RIS). While a PACS is not necessarily specialized for radiology by definition, a RIS is and has many features that make it easier to manage radiology patients on a daily basis.
• The PACS radiology cost needs to be considered. While most expect more expensive software to provide better quality, this is not always the case. Extravagant fees don’t always mean the best software. A PACS that is affordable and has reasonable maintenance fees is an ideal long-term choice if the performance and support are good and needed features are available.
• When you’re considering a PACS for radiology purposes, know that a good system can support images in a wide array of formats. This will include patient imaging from different modalities, such as CT, MRI, PET scans, and X-rays. Important modalities to include are mammography, tomosynthesis, and support for both 2D and 3D images.
• Due to the importance of referrals when it comes to effective medical practice, particularly for imaging centers, it is essential for these healthcare facilities to opt for a PACS that enables easy and secure sharing of information among physicians in different departments and even to those outside the facility.
• Patient data is confidential and digital security is a major concern. There are many threats to healthcare data, so it is integral for hospitals and imaging centers to have a software solution that will keep this data safe. For this reason, a PACS with proper measures to secure patient data should always be used.
• For imaging centers or hospitals that have more than one physical branch, it is convenient to be able to access patient images from any location, instead of having them all stored locally. This can be a major advantage for patients who may want to stay under the same healthcare provider even when in another city. PACS software with the option for cloud-based storage provides the possibility for radiologists to access patient information from any center.

How NovaPACS Is Perfect for Radiology

For healthcare centers looking for a PACS solution that is perfect for them, Novarad’s NovaPACS software is a fantastic choice. It satisfies all the criteria described here for the optimal radiology-appropriate PACS.

NovaPACS integrates seamlessly with Nova RIS, which enables radiologists to handle medical information and manage patients under their department with ease. Whether it’s to ensure quick and easy patient scheduling, report distribution, and other management processes, the NovaPACS and Nova RIS partnership provides that opportunity in the smoothest way. It is an affordable option that provides support for multiple radiological modalities, including mammography, which typically needs a separate workstation for images to be viewed on.

Novarad also offers customization options for your NovaPACS workstation. Whether your facility benefits more from onsite, offsite, or hybrid storage, the options are available. You can even customize it to operate using cloud storage.

Most hospital or imaging center administrators and radiologists will find that the Novarad PACS radiology option ticks all the essential boxes for effective patient care and management.

Here at Novarad, we believe that the key to a successful imaging center is to work smarter, not harder, to deliver the type of care and outcomes that patients desire.

To see how we can help improve your workflows, feel free to reach out to our workflow specialists today!