This short paper seeks to: inform readers regarding the differences between a Vendor Neutral Archive (VNA) and a PACS alert readers with regard to some of the issues to consider when evaluating a VNA and comparing one VNA to another It does not purport to be a definitive statement as to the meaning of Vendor Neutral Archive nor is it an exhaustive or comprehensive assessment of the various ways of designing a VNA and implementing a VNA project.

For as long as the IT infrastructure has been able to support it, there has been a growing acceptance in the professional medical community that a single, comprehensive, digital patient record will lead to better informed and safer diagnoses. If it were universally available at the point of need one could also expect more timely, effective and efficient treatments. Could this be a great idea whose time has come? Yes, but, as is often the case with paradigm-shifting realisations, making it happen has proved easier...

The key features of a VNA compared to PACS may be summarised, as: VNA PACS (+ other service-based systems) Patient-centred / trans-departmental Service-centred department-based Multiple standards-based – DICOM, HL7, non-DICOM etc DICOM and proprietary PACS-based formats Seamless interface with RIS, HIS and EMR DICOM/HL7 incompatibility issues Accept, distribute, display images and medical information from numerous disparate digital systems anywhere Accept, distribute, display medical images only from and within the (usually proprietary) PACS Free information / support data-sharing (XDS) Hold information / inhibit data sharing (limited...

Through a wholesale re-modelling of radiology based on digital technology, PACS has significantly contributed to increased productivity and improved clinical effectiveness of medical imaging while demonstrating the benefits of integration. Paradoxically, however, in successfully realising its potential PACS has also exposed its own limitations. With the radiological model well proven, the greater clinical community is now becoming aware that a single-specialty or department-based solution is not sufficiently intelligent, versatile or integrated to address ever increasing demands of the patient within the whole medical enterprise. These...

All references used within this paper are based on private and corporate communications.

Declaration of Interest The author is an employee of TeraMedica, Inc. 10400 Innovation Drive Milwaukee WI 53226 USA TeraMedica, Inc. is a manufacturer of vendor neutral archives