Overview
Converting from one PACS to another will create greater challenges and potential disruption than going from film to filmless Below are a filmless. set of questions you need to have clear answers for in order to make the transition smooth and ensure the greatest outcome. These questions are based in 5 categories: System Selection Hardware & Architecture System Installation & Build Conversion & Migration Testing & Validation Go Live & Cutover
System Selection
What is the impact of application feature changes on users? How will you manage application customization from legacy to new system? How will you transition worklist modifications from legacy to new system? How well do vendors collaborate with transition? What information in current system is proprietary to the vendor? What is the plan to ensure there is no gap in coverage between current vendor support and new vendor support? Who will manage troubleshooting between both systems during build testing build, testing, conversion, migration, and cutover? Have you conducted full system requirements including Technical, Functional and Clinical for new system based on lessons learned from legacy system (workflow, image distribution, archiving, integration, image export/import, remote reading, etc.)
What is the existing storage architecture and what changes are required with new system? Are you pursuing vendor-neutral archive solution with transition? Have you performed gap analysis between existing and future vendor support including hardware, software, downtime, and support model? g , , , pp Is EHR and HIE included in future roadmap? Have you performed gap analysis for end user hardware/network requirements for new system? Do all hardware components of new system comply with existing infrastructure and IT policy? How will you design and manage High Availability? How will you manage network design during build, test and cutover?
Do you have a well-documented and understood DR policy in place? What differences exist between legacy and future system databases including vendor and location within system? How are backups managed currently vs. future system? What SOA requirements currently exist or will exist in the future and what is your strategy? What is your virtualization strategy and how is it accounted for with future system?