Storing patient data on DVD-RAM

Cascade Medical Imaging LLC (CMI) of Bend, Ore., has found a solution to its data storage problems by using DVD-RAM, a rewriteable DVD format which features high-speed read and write capabilities, fast random access, and error correction.
   
Like all organizations in the healthcare community, CMI has been challenged by the sheer amount of data growth produced as a result of using PACS as well as the data retention mandates of the Health Insurance Portability and the Accountability Act (HIPAA). In 2003 CMI began looking for new flexible and secure storage options capable of expanding as data needs evolve.     
    
CMI chose DR System's Dominator PACS with the systems' Guardian Archive with the DVD Jukebox option. The Guardian is designed to provide long-term DVD digital archive that is at once cost effective but that also provides multi-terabyte storage and retrieval. The system uses off-the-shelf Maxell DVD-RAM discs.
   
A year later, CMI added to its backup system with EMC's Centera for primary backup.
    
Since 2003, CMI has accumulated over 3.2 TB of online data with 1.1 TB of compressed data recorded to DVD-RAM. The system has also enabled CMI to grow and the company now protects PACS data from numerous hospitals, offices and labs throughout Oregon.

Cascade Medical Imaging LLC (CMI) was formed in 2001 as a joint venture with Cascade Healthcare Community, St. Charles Medical Center Bend and Central Oregon Radiology Associates, P.C.

Around the web

The new technology shows early potential to make a significant impact on imaging workflows and patient care. 

Richard Heller III, MD, RSNA board member and senior VP of policy at Radiology Partners, offers an overview of policies in Congress that are directly impacting imaging.
 

The two companies aim to improve patient access to high-quality MRI scans by combining their artificial intelligence capabilities.