Imaging

The National Football League (NFL) and Infinitt North America, a Phillipsburg, N.J.-based provider of healthcare image and information management technologies have partnered on a ten-year agreement to provide on-demand access to players’ medical images.

As imaging data throughout the enterprise grows, so does the need for a vendor neutral archive (VNA) for more cost-effective storage. Selecting and implementing a VNA can be daunting. First requirements must be defined, and then vendor claims need to be assessed to achieve a good match. Although this can be challenging, finding ways to simplify and refine the process can be rewarding. A workable framework could help better define requirements and assess alternatives.

Recent consulting engagement discussions have brought the question of “best-of-breed” versus single vendor to the forefront. In one instance, different sections of the same academic department all have their own idea of what’s the best reporting solution for them. And it’s not just academia. I am starting an engagement with a county hospital that has three distinct vendor solutions within the same cardiology department!

Microsoft has been getting its share of bad press lately after poor quarterly results and more details on a planned reorganization. Many are saying that Microsoft can’t sustain its dominance with Windows and Office as PC sales stall. It is interesting to speculate as to what healthcare might look like post-Microsoft, given the dominance of PC applications in healthcare. Or, will Microsoft be successful in transforming itself, and all this speculation be for naught?

In case anyone has been wondering, I’ve sort of taken a hiatus from the blog. This has not been due to a writer’s block, but more to introspection. Following my recent blog on ARRA/Meaning Use (An Open Letter to Dr. Blumenthal, August 28, 2009), I decided to step back and do some additional research into the subject.