Top five applications for Cloud Technology

 Saskia Groeneveld

Cloud technology is here and it’s providing organisations with a scaleable solution to store data and images remotely.  Using cloud-based technology for PACS provides the kind of reliability and robustness essential for the security of patient data.

At ECR 2012 Carestream will demonstrate the scope of its cloud technology solutions, including a works-in-progress patient portal under development that will allow patients to access and view their own medical imaging data and share it with their physicians. This patient portal is designed to eliminate the cumbersome process of sharing patient imaging data using CDs, DVDs or radiographic film.

• Patient information exchange
  The secure access to patient’s own data any time, eliminating need for CDs or DVDs or film when patients continue their care elsewhere.  Carestream is demonstrating a works-in-progress patient portal at ECR 2012 that grants  patients to access and view their own medical imaging data and share it with other physicians (e.g. second opinion, treatment in an other hospital etc.). When available, this portal will be included in the family of CARESTREAM Vue Cloud Services, enabling authorised physicians and radiologists access to patient data, imaging exams and radiology reports from any location.
• Physician access and collaborative workflow
  Just as patients can access data, so can physicians via their own portal. Access to images and reports, along with communication to radiologists, are critical to patient care.  The Vue Cloud Community allows healthcare facilities to create a virtual community workflow, sharing images and information to enable successful consultation on all areas of diagnoses and treatment.  Collaboration between clinicians at different institutions and locations is critical to providing timely and optimal patient care. The reasons for collaboration are endless: a second opinion, decision on patient care management, or teaching conferences. Now, with Cloud services, budget and geography are no longer obstacles.
• Disaster recovery and business continuance plan as part of the IT strategy
  Storage offsite at an active data center can help restore imaging services right away without delay to critical imaging services.  
• Technology obsolescence protection
  Hospitals can avoid costly migration from legacy platforms. Carestream takes care of all technology updates, ensuring customers are always equipped with the latest and greatest software.
• Accommodate growth or expansion without significant capital investment
  Vue Cloud Archive Services eliminates the need to acquire and maintain ever-growing on-site Software and Hardware needs. Because of the cloud’s scaleable nature, customers benefit from economies of scale, regardless of their own volume. No need to worry about the cost and inefficiency of technology obsolescence.  Cloud’s operational payment means you pay as you "grow" easily.