Digital imaging infrastructure integration
PenRAD has worked to harmonise contracting for digital services across the four peninsula trusts and to improve functionality and cross-site compatibility, while making savings on the overall cost.
The challenge
Historically, some trusts within networks procured picture archiving and communications systems (PACS) and radiology information systems (RIS) individually rather than collectively, which led to different solutions being implemented.
This complexity made it harder to share image and report studies between neighbouring sites. Conversely, having individual contracts with the same provider or choosing different providers meant that some trusts were not achieving the best value for money, from shared procurement costs and overall enterprise solutions.
While some joint arrangements already existed, a holistic shared approach was adopted early on in the PenRAD network from 2007 onwards.
Our approach
PenRAD has led the re-procurement of PACS and RIS across the peninsula.
A shared peninsula imaging infrastructure is absolutely essential in the delivery of cross-site imaging and reporting, our Shared Insourced Reporting Programme, and the Peninsula Radiology On-Call (PROC) service.
Long-standing supplier relationships, along with expert contractual history and knowledge, has allowed PenRAD to avoid significant cost increases and instead negotiate significant system saving.
In addition, specific gaps in technical functionality were identified and have been added into contracts at no additional cost, further protecting trusts from future, unforeseen cost pressures.
PenRAD was able to secure £4.7m of capital funding from NHS England to support the re-procurement of PACS and home-reporting.
Impact and benefits
In just one process, the network approach has saved trusts £786k
The new, cloud-based central PACS will be a significant step forward and will support standardised, co-produced workflows and worklists across the region for sharing, allocating and reporting studies.
Further optimisation of the system will enable access anytime, anywhere, and on any device to facilitate enhanced cross-site advice and reporting.
Since PenRAD has taken on responsibility for strategic oversight of PROC there have been significant operational benefits that have been facilitated by PenRAD's work on improving the digital infrastructure and integration across the peninsula.
Tom Sulkin, Consultant Radiologist, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Next steps
The deployment of the central archive PACS solution will provide an enhanced disaster recovery and business continuity solution along with an optimised/more efficient radiology system saving clinical time and further enhancing clinical safety.
PenRAD will look at extending the central architecture capability to other networks, saving on the multi-site deployment of applications, and increasing their capability and capacity to make cost savings on outsourcing.