Radiology Cloud and Archive Storage

Radiology imaging studies require massive amounts of data storage either in on-premise server farms, or using cloud data storage via an internet connection. There was progress toward cloud adoption prior to the COVID pandemic, but the pandemic made many healthcare institutions realize the benefits of having their data internet accessible for clinicians outside the traditional hospital environment, including mobile computing, remote radiology reading and easier image and data access for referring physicians. Cloud allows the liberation of physical space previously occupied by on-premises servers and the potential cost savings in areas like air conditioning and electrical usage. Cloud also enables the ability to redirect IT staff to more strategic initiatives. Outsourcing data storage can also help alleviate issues with short staff IT departments, and offer better cybersecurity by vendors that have specialized teams monitoring their servers 24-7.
 

Amy Thompson, a senior analyst at Signify Research, explains what she is seeing in the market for radiology PACS. She said the biggest overall, strategic technology trends are wider adoption of enterprise imaging systems expanding beyond radiology to include other departments, migration to cloud data storage, and adoption of artificial intelligence. Components of these integrate into the 5 trends in radiology IT systems outlined below.

5 key trends in PACS and enterprise imaging from Signify Research

Signify Research explains several key trends in the evolution of radiology PACS and enterprise imaging systems, including adoption of artificial intelligence, streamlining workflow, implementing structured reporting and more.

Why is cloud computing is being adopted in radiology? Amy Thompson, a senior analyst at Signify Research, explains what she is seeing in radiology PACS and enterprise imaging system in the market in terms of cloud adoption. She said there has been rising interest in adopting cloud over the past few years, and the COVID pandemic showed amity healthcare systems the value of having a cloud-based system for easier remote access to patient data and imaging.

Cloud storage helps solve radiology IT and cybersecurity issues and is growing

Amy Thompson, a senior analyst at Signify Research, explains why radiology is rapidly adopting cloud data storage solutions.

 

Example of artificial intelligence generated measurements to quantify the size of a lung cancer nodule during a followup CT scan to see if the lesion is regressing with treatment. This type of automation can aid radiologists by doing the tedious, time consuming work. Photo by Dave Fornell

8 trends in radiology technology to watch in 2023

Here is a list of some key trends in radiology technology from our editors based on our coverage of the radiology market.

What do Google and Amazon really want from medical imaging?

Big Tech’s recent expansions into medical imaging have business watchers scrambling to decipher the unspoken stratagems beneath the conspicuous moves.

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Google Health partners with iCAD in commercial AI imaging push

The deal is the first commercial partnership for Google Health to introduce its breast imaging AI into clinical practice.

Amazon

Amazon marshals partners, providers behind major move into medical imaging

Cloud giant Amazon Web Services is expanding its 1½ -year-old HealthLake data-management service in two imaging-specific directions. In the process it’s drawing vocal buy-in from healthcare providers as well as imaging vendors.

Konica Minolta Healthcare to Extend Exa Platform to the Cloud with AWS

Wayne, NJ, November 15, 2022 – Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc. announced today it is working toward offering its leading cloud-based Exa® Platform and Symmetry® PACS as a Software as a Service (SaaS) model in the cloud. Konica Minolta is currently working with Amazon Web Services (AWS) by using Amazon HealthLake Imaging, now available in preview, and will use the security and scale of AWS to host the Exa Platform and Symmetry PACS. Using the cloud, healthcare organizations can be more flexible, agile and scalable as they efficiently deploy and manage software.

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VIDEO: KLAS shares trends in enterprise imaging and AI

Monique Rasband, vice president of imaging, cardiology and oncology, KLAS Research, explains some of technology trends KLAS researchers have found in enterprise imaging system and radiology artificial intelligence (AI).

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