For healthcare practices that do a lot of medical imaging, Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) plays a critical role in helping providers understand a patient’s condition more than a standard image can. But as helpful as this digital technology tool is, handling it requires a lot of work.
Before you can review an imaging study, for example, someone may need to check if it has arrived, pull up the correct patient record, or make sure it’s available to the right member of your team. All of these are necessary but aren’t what one would call ‘clinical.’
For this reason, providers often delegate the management of PACS to their in-person staff. Given how a significant portion of healthcare staff turnover is driven by burnout, such a strategy might not be ideal if your practice is already struggling with an excessive administrative workload. But that doesn’t mean you need to shoulder PACS management because you have the option to integrate medical virtual assistants (VAs) into your existing team structure.
So, can a medical VA really handle PACS?
What Is a PACS?
A system that lets you or your team digitally store, retrieve, and manage medical images, PACS is the place where you can access them without using physical films. However, PACS shouldn’t be confused with DICOM.
DICOM is the standard commonly used to format and exchange medical imaging information, while PACS is the system used to store and manage it.
Can Medical Virtual Assistants Work Within PACS?
Yes, medical virtual assistants are capable of working within PACS as long as your system
allows secure remote access. However, the extent of what they can do will depend on the PACS you use. Some PACS are configured differently, so the permissions you can give them and the responsibilities you can assign to their role will depend heavily on what your PACS will allow.
What PACS Tasks Can You Delegate to a Medical VA?
While PACS is primarily associated with medical imaging, not everything done within the system requires clinical expertise. The PACS-related responsibilities you can delegate to a VA are along the lines of checking whether imaging studies have been received, uploading or organizing them, verifying patient and study information, or coordinating with imaging facilities. However, tasks that require clinical expertise, such as interpreting the imaging study, should only be performed by you.
The goal isn’t necessarily to have your VA manage every aspect of your PACS. Instead, you can determine which parts of the workflow are administrative and give them access to the functions necessary to complete those tasks.
How Can a Medical VA Access PACS Remotely?
How your medical VA accesses PACS will largely depend on the system you use. Some PACS platforms offer browser-based or other forms of remote access, while others may require you to establish a secure connection before someone outside your physical location can use the system.
Apart from setting up access, you should also determine what your VA can actually do once they’re logged in. If their role only requires them to retrieve studies and check incoming images, for example, they may not need access to every available function.
Giving employees access based on their responsibilities can help you maintain better control over how your PACS is used.
Can Medical VAs Use PACS While Staying HIPAA-Compliant?
Because PACS can contain medical images and other protected health information (PHI), giving a remote employee access requires the same attention to privacy and security as other systems containing patient information.
Your VA should only access PACS through methods approved by your practice and use the information available to them for their assigned responsibilities. They should also understand your policies for handling PHI and receive proper HIPAA training before working with patient information.
If you hire independently, making sure your VA receives this training may fall on your practice. Alternatively, healthcare-focused VA companies may provide HIPAA training and compliance support as part of their service.
Remote work itself doesn’t determine whether PACS access is appropriate. What matters more is how access is provided, what your VA is allowed to do, and what safeguards are in place.
What Should You Look for in a Medical VA Who Will Use PACS?
Because PACS is specialized healthcare software, previous healthcare experience is an important qualification to consider.
Familiarity with medical terminology and healthcare workflows can make it easier for your VA to understand the information they’re working with. Previous PACS experience is also beneficial, but it doesn’t necessarily need to be a requirement.
After all, not every PACS works exactly the same way. Even someone with previous experience may need to learn the specific platform and workflow used by your practice.
Apart from technical knowledge, your ideal VA should have strong attention to detail. Working with medical imaging requires them to accurately identify patient information, follow your procedures, and make sure studies are handled correctly.
Should You Let a Medical VA Work Within Your PACS?
Ultimately, this depends on how much administrative work your PACS creates for your practice.
If your clinical staff only use the system to review an occasional imaging study, additional support may not be necessary. But if they regularly spend time looking for studies, checking whether images have arrived, or handling other administrative steps, you may have responsibilities that can be delegated.
The important thing is to establish what your medical VA is actually there to do. They don’t need unrestricted access to your PACS, nor should they take on clinical responsibilities simply because they can access medical images.
With the right permissions, training, and workflow in place, a medical VA can help you manage the administrative side of PACS while your clinical staff remains focused on using those images for patient care.
If you’re looking for a more convenient way to find support for PACS management, hire a medical VA from My Mountain Mover. Our VAs are thoroughly screened and trained to make sure they are technologically competent remote professionals who can handle PACS in a way that will push your practice forward.
FOOTER IMAGE
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PACS the same as an EHR?
No. Although both systems are used to store and manage patient information, EHR contains a broader patient record, while PACS is primarily designed to store and manage medical images.
Is PACS only used by radiology practices?
No. While PACS is closely associated with radiology, it can be useful in any specialty that regularly works with medical images, such as cardiology, orthopedics, and dentistry.
Does PACS contain protected health information (PHI)?
Yes. Medical images can be linked to information that identifies the patient. Because of this, anyone accessing your PACS should follow the appropriate HIPAA privacy and security requirements.
