A few years ago, I wrote my first article about “Cloud-PACS”.  Basically I said it was a great idea but not yet ready for prime time.  Add time, technology, higher internet speeds, more cloud storage capacity and better encryption and I modified my thinking.  I now see real value (in terms of money and organizational simplification) for three types of clients:  small practices, multi-clinic operations and large clients.  I still think large, very active individual practices may find server-based PACS systems still have the edge.

Unlike most of my blogs, I have to be clear:  this one is a sales promotion. 

I now think Cloud-PACS is viable enough that we are offering a version.  We are also offering a secure cloud long term back-up storage program.

Here’s my reasoning on why you should consider Cloud-PACS.

As PACS has become ubiquitous, the real challenges of maintaining a PACS have become apparent.  These include the maintenance of computer hardware, keeping software up to date, having enough storage for the growing volume of images, transporting patient information securely, and accurately budgeting for all of these issues.  Those are the PACS users’ issues.  For the imaging dealer, there are the additional issues of competitively and profitably pricing the initial and ongoing service costs of a server-based PACS system.

With Cloud-PACS products, these issues disappear. 

There is no additional hardware.  There are no programs to load.  There is no need for dedicated workstations.  Storage is virtually unlimited.  Pricing is a flat monthly fee – at least with our XOPACS product.

There is strong end-to-end encryption and security.  All that is requried from the user is a computer on the same network as the modiality, with internet connectivity.  Installation is simple, done remotely and takes very little time.

Viewing is done via almost any internet browser, which means it is truly “zero footprint”.  As long as you have internet access, a user name and a password, you have viewing access.  More importantly, images are never downloaded onto the local access computer, so when you log off, no data remains on the computer.  In fact, no data was ever downloaded to the computer.

While we offer plans for multiple modality users and large multi-site systems, the greatest need today is for a solution for the small practice with a single modality…typically a CR, DR, DEXA or US.  Small end-users generally do not have a dedicated IT staff.  They often are not fully computer system conversant and need to minimize IT expenses.

Click here to download literature on XOPACS and send me an email to see a demo.  Yes, you have the time.   It’ll only take 10 minutes.

LONG TERM, OFFSITE IMAGE STORAGE

Ever ask a client what they are doing for long term back-up and get this reply, “We have this removable drive attached to our PACS server for that”?

I have.

Next question: “What happens when the place floods or burns?  Where are those back-up images then?”

Answer: Blank stare.

If you are worried about losing your images to a natural or man-made disaster, XOCrypto is the solution you have been looking for.  XOCrypto is an encrypted data back-up system with cloud storage specifically designed for medical images.  There is no additional hardware.  There is just one “program” to install and configure.  Pricing is a flat monthly fee. Critically important, you are notified if images are not being received on the cloud after 72 hours, to allow you to check to make sure your system is working. 

Here are the key features:

  • Disaster recovery for medical images (or any type of digital file)
  • Backs up any type of file that is placed in one of four identified folders1
  • Encrypts and compresses files before sending to cloud
  • Stores encrypted files on Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud
  • Allows restoration of files either by date range and/or folder or group type
  • Uses lossless compression with up to a 4:1 ratio depending on the file

Click here to download literature on XOCrypto and send me an email to discuss pricing.  Yes, you have the time. This one will only take you 5 minutes!