Data are growing in size and scope. Radiology departments and imaging centers face unprecedented bandwidth challenges that stem from the need to store exponentially growing datasets. With bandwidth costs increasing and servers consuming valuable square footage, radiology is on the lookout for a new solution. Cloud storage may fit the bill.

The College of American Pathologists (CAP) has contributed to the expansion of the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) medical image exchange standard, Supplement 145, for the accommodation of pathology.

Cloud computing technology—a market that Merrill Lynch values at $95 billion over the next five years—has recently begun to move  into healthcare. However, questions remain about how facilities and departments, including radiology, will fully take advantage of these zero footprint solutions.

In the current era of healthcare reform, spawned by the funding made available in the HITECH Act of February's stimulus package, there has been much discussion about producing transparent and quantifiable data on the performance of various departments.

For cardiology PACS, the explosion of cardiac-related advances across imaging modalities has created demand for expanded capabilities beyond simple image storage and distribution, providing physicians with access to patient-specific information related to images and reports within the facility or externally. Meanwhile, with this increased volume of image data, cardiologists also need to have access to more extensive patient data, such as hemodynamic monitoring, EKG and electronic medical record (EMR) information to create structured reports.

Cardiovascular information systems (CVIS) are providing the means to integrate the business of cardiology with the practice of cardiology at the point of care—with great results for managers.

With new and improved CVIS, electronic reporting and connectivity is now readily available to cardiology departments.