Gray Consulting assists clients in the design and deployment of their Radiology PACS, whether it is their first PACS, an upgrade of an existing system or a replacement of an existing system. The design stage involves the use of customized questionnaires and data collection worksheets designed to assess needs, detect bottlenecks, review utilization patterns, and discover requirements. The one-on-one interviews (conducted personally by Michael Gray) with Technologists, Clerical Staff, Radiologists, and Referring Physicians are particularly useful in determining the “right” solutions that will meet the client’s unique needs. First time PACS projects would benefit from both the Strategic Plan and the Vendor Selection phases. Those planning PACS upgrades or replacements, most likely will only need the Vendor Selection phase.
| Strategic Plan | Vendor Selection |
| Administrative Questionnaire | Strategic Plan Review |
| Data Collection | System Requirements/Specifications |
| Process/Operations Observation | Definition of Required Services |
| Workflow Analysis | RFP Preparation/Response Analysis |
| On-site Interviews | Site Visit Preparation |
| Proposed Solutions | Vendor Selection |
| System Design | Contract Review |
| System Description | Assistance with Project Management |
| Phased Deployment Strategy | Workflow Redesign |
| Enterprise Rollout Strategy | Final Report Presentation |
| Business Case/Modeling |
Trade Show Reviews
Do more than just kick tires
Major trade shows offer a great opportunity to learn more about vendor solutions and make product comparisons. Since this is not a formal part of the vendor selection process, these can be done at almost any time.
For a Trade Show to be worthwhile, you must find a knowledgeable vendor representative to talk to, be sure to ask all the right questions, and document what you learned for later evaluation.
To make trade show evaluations as productive as possible, Gray Consulting provides:
• Suggestions on which vendors/products to check out
• Scheduled appointments with knowledgeable vendor representatives
• Suggestions on questions to ask and specific features to see
• Participation in vendor meetings to maximize information gathered
• A written report summary and analysis of the vendor meetings
Common topics for trade show reviews include:
• (PACS) System Architecture
• PACS-Neutral Archives (aka Vendor-Neutral Archives)
• Storage Solutions
• Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity solutions
• Cloud Storage Service offerings
• DICOM Conformance
• Document Scanning
• Technologist Workstation
• Data Migration
• Computed Radiography
• Entry-level Archives and Upgrade Paths
• Web Servers
• Voice Recognition Reporting Systems
• Taking ER Digital
• Professional Services in support of Rollout Strategies
Show reviews are scheduled on a first come, first serve basis. The RSNA, AHRA, SCAR, and other shows are ideal opportunities for “walkabouts”, and other shows can be included, provided there is sufficient interest.