Many are aware it stands for: Picture Archive Communication System, along with the need for Digital Imaging Communication System (DICOM), which includes embedded information such as the patient name, age, sex and date of the exam.
DICOMS for example, had only previously been used in human health, but with its implementation in the veterinary world, it ensures our beloved animals get the same level of care.
And with the veterinary imaging market expected to reach $3 billion by 2030, that’s an exponential increase in the use of diagnostic imaging equipment—but they’re only useful if they can be viewed, processed, and stored properly.
You’re in a bit of a pickle without appropriate viewing and lack of crystal-clear imaging.
These days, a prompt diagnosis or a protracted period of uncertainty can hinge on the clarity and detail of modern imaging.
The need for a modern veterinary PAC system
As outlined in the Strategic Market Research report on the rise of the imaging market, the opportunity is for veterinary clinics to embrace technologically advanced solutions or the capacity to view and diagnose diseases in a more efficient way. Especially when animal adoption, infectious diseases, and the increase in spending on animal care are all on the rise.
Demand for speedier, more efficient, high-quality diagnoses is on the rise.
Enter Asteris Keystone, an all-inclusive, comprehensive PACS, DICOMS and teleradiology platform designed by and for veterinarians and clinical staff. It provides a comprehensive solution for the storage, transfer, or retrieval of images from the home office, farm or racetrack.
Challenges of outdated or siloed systems
Veterinary clinics frequently face the following issues when they do not have a PACS:
- Delays in accessing, storing, and sharing patient images
- Lost revenue due to inefficiencies
- A poor reputation for customer service and referrals
- Unnecessary stress on staff, leading to poor staff retention
- Delays in prompt or efficient diagnosis’
And if using other/older software or manual processing, risks also include:
- Costly upfront hardware and maintenance
- Cybersecurity risks and authorization issues
Without a PACS integrated, there may be severe delays in processing and viewing images, leading to a delay in patient diagnoses, which can have a critical, knock-on impact on your patient care service and client satisfaction levels.
Exploring the top benefits of PAC systems and how it can optimise veterinary care
If you’ve ever felt frustrated by slow diagnoses at your clinic, using a modern PACS like Asteris Keystone can help.
It provides streamlined efficiency and can be integrated into any high-quality practice management system (PMS), meaning you don’t have to worry about learning yet another new thing.
The beauty is that it’s synced into your workflow in a seamless manner and has an intuitive interface to facilitate non-distruptive workflows.
No matter if you are in the hospital or working remotely, Asteris Keystone’s hybrid local and cloud-based architecture ensures the best speed and performance. Their proprietary image processing technology reduces internal network security risks without sacrificing image quality, allowing you to view high-resolution images whenever you need them.
Other benefits include:
- Immediate and secure access, anytime, anywhere
- View images just as they were acquired from various imaging modalities
- Facilitates teleradiology and specialist diagnoses virtually
- Faster processing times and less wasted downtime
- Boost your veterinary brand’s reputation by providing superior patient care
- Automatic system vs manual updates
- Pay-as-you go service model (goodbye annual service contracts or maintenance fees!)
- Asteris software is continuously improved upon with new tools and workflow features
“I’m very pleased with the Asteris system because it handles all of our modalities and integrates them into one, simple-to-use system. They’ve really delivered on everything that we were looking for and everything that they promised.” Scott Hay, DVM, President, TFB Equine
In addition to speedier and higher-quality imaging diagnoses, leveraging this technology can help you reduce missed charges in your practice, since it will help your teams fill in the gaps where a diagnosis might be missed or in prescribing the right medication. It also prevents massive financial loss due to inaccessible data and liability issues.
A holistic approach – accessing Asteris Keystone through Covetrus Ascend, VisionVPM and RxWorks
We understand the importance of a simple, user-friendly PMS, which is why we only collaborate with companies that we can trust to provide our clients with unrivalled value. Accordingly, integrating with Asteris Keystone was an easy decision for us.
Using the industry-leading PACS with any of our three PMS solutions—Covetrus Ascend, VisionVPM, or RxWorks—is part of our goal for a high-performing, stress-free ecosystem in the vet practice where all systems work together harmoniously.
A veterinarian treating a patient will often need all of these things at their disposal in order to establish a diagnosis and formulate a treatment strategy. For better efficiency, accuracy, and throughput, the integration (or communication) of all information systems into one unified medical record accessible from a single server is the ideal scenario.
Unlock business growth with simplified and automated administration
Integrating Asteris Keystone solutions simplifies and automates the administration of these diagnostic pictures and patient records. It allows practices to efficiently handle a higher volume of cases by reducing errors, improving care coordination, and speeding up processing times.
Clients are more satisfied as a result of the dramatic improvement in diagnostic speed and accuracy. Because of this, clients love the speedy service, the thorough diagnosis, and the power to make educated decisions regarding their pet’s health.
Practices can also unlock significant business growth by streamlining operations, which saves time and eliminates errors by removing the need for re-entry of patient data, allowing practices to serve more patients efficiently.
Improved client care and a better outcome for all
Operational efficiency, diagnostic capabilities, customer experience, and opportunities for company growth are all positively affected by the change from the pre- to post-Asteris state.
Veterinarian clinics improve their responsiveness, agility, and ability to deliver high-quality care in order to stand out in the increasingly competitive veterinary industry.
For optimal results with this integration, it is recommended to schedule a live demonstration of the PACS to confirm its compatibility with all of your practice’s modalities and manufacturers.
During this demonstration, your team can learn the ins and outs of the PACS and how it can streamline your processes with its enhanced accessibility.
