Cloud-Based PACS Alternative Means Faster Diagnosis

By MedImaging International staff writers
Posted on 19 Dec 2011
A cloud-based alternative to conventional on-premise picture archiving and communication system (PACS) was developed by radiologists for radiologists. The cost-effective solution requires no up-front capital costs or expensive upgrades to servers.

Virtual Radiologic (vRad; Minneapolis, MN, USA), a technology-enabled national radiology practice, announced that Enterprise Connect, its PACS alternative solution, has been selected by Abbeville Area Medical Center (AAMC; Abbeville, SC, USA), a 25-bed rural hospital in upstate South Carolina.

Dr. K.W. Ballentine, AAMC staff radiologist, is responsible for reading approximately 15,000 medical imaging studies per year. “I am excited to start using the technology,” explained Dr. Ballentine. “Integrated dictation, critical results communication management, and other features that a radiologist can really appreciate are built into the system. It will save time, improve productivity, and enable faster diagnosis and treatment for our patients.”

AAMC will also use vRad Results to deliver real-time, mobile, and Web-based access to radiology results for care providers. Davis Able, director of radiology at Abbeville Area Medical Center, shares Dr. Ballentine’s enthusiasm for the switch to vRad’s technology. Mr. Able explained, “vRad’s technology reduces IT [information technology] complexity and simplifies workflow while the savings add up very quickly. The hardware alone would have run USD 50,000, plus we would have had to continue with our hardware and software maintenance contracts.”

“Rural hospitals such as AAMC are under great pressure to do more with less and still maintain high-quality patient care,” explained Rob Kill, vRad’s president and chief executive officer. “vRad’s technology and services enable providers to do just that. Our solutions help to accelerate time to accurate diagnosis while improving the quality and raising the standard of care.”

Abbeville Area Medical Center’s chief executive officer, Richard Osmus, said, “We look forward to expanding our partnership with vRad beyond just teleradiology, and are confident the technology will have a positive impact on service delivery and support our ability to provide the best possible care in our community.”

Virtual Radiologic (vRad) is a technology-enabled national radiology practice working in partnership with local radiologists and hospitals to optimize radiology’s fundamental role in patient care. vRad’s more than 400 radiologists serve 2,700 plus facilities, reading seven million studies yearly.

Related Links:

Virtual Radiologic
Abbeville Area Medical Center



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