Imaging plays a vital role in the diagnosis and treatment of many medical issues.
Mobile scanning units can play an important role in making medical imaging more accessible. However, such units often lack live access to medical records. Syntura customer DEOS Consultancy decided to solve this problem.
Its system securely transfers scan images to PACS (picture archiving and communication systems) and can let staff in mobile units update patient records and appointment booking systems in real-time. The DEOS system can be retrofitted to most medical vehicles.
DEOS Consultancy Turns to Syntura for HSCN Access and UK Cloud Hosting
DEOS was already providing internet access to mobile scanning units, but wanted to extend its service – allowing clients’ mobile units to use applications and websites only accessible via HSCN.
The firm wished to move away from managing its own physical servers. It needed:
Syntura was selected to provide these elements.
"HSCN is a real benefit for us because most hospital IT systems trust it and rely on it. Promoting our service is much easier now we can say we’ve got an HSCN connection." – Viv Barrett, Director of DEOS Consultancy
Ending Data Transfer Delays
Completed scans are automatically sent to the relevant NHS trust’s PACS (picture archiving and communication system), without the radiographer having to do anything.
“Previously, they would have had to upload the scans onto a hard drive… that was being transported back to the hospital, and that often took two days,” explained DEOS’s Viv Barrett.
“We can transfer images… to the hospital PACS in two minutes.”
This speeds diagnosis. Patients can get results faster, reducing needless anxiety. Where scans are unclear or concerning, follow-up scans or treatments can be booked sooner
Keeping Patient Data Secure
Patient data is encrypted by DEOS devices and sent via resilient mobile broadband to Syntura’s resilient UK cloud platform.
DEOS’s code then decrypts the traffic, decompresses scan images and uploads them to clients’ PACS via the HSCN.
A Syntura managed firewall handles any additional encryption and authentication tasks required for certain DEOS clients.
Syntura is ISO 27001 certified, following regular independent audits of its information security processes and practices.
Onboarding Clients Rapidly
Once trusts decide to use DEOS’s service, they want it ASAP. “Most customers want it yesterday,” commented Barrett. DEOS can install its system in as little as two weeks.
Previously, DEOS had to buy a server for each new client to host. Now, it can just run its code on Syntura’s cloud instead.
This speeds up and simplifies client onboarding and makes it far easier for DEOS to roll out software updates.
New clients have an HSCN connection already, so DEOS can use its own HSCN connection to exchange data with them.
Accessing Records in Real-Time
DEOS clients now have the option to access patient medical records and worklists electronically, securely, in real time.
This digital approach reduces reliance on paper records, reduces re-keying and improves patient confidentiality. Mobile units can access appointment booking systems and patient data in real time, boosting efficiency and flexibility.
Slots left empty by cancellations, no-shows, and early completions can be made available for last-minute bookings.
Maximising Service Availability
The healthcare sector requires high levels of system uptime. To help ensure such levels are achieved, DEOS’s cloud-hosted workloads run on Syntura’s resilient, enterprise-grade server cluster, spanning multiple UK data centres.
The platform is supported 24/7 by Syntura’s support team.
Monitoring systems alert the team to potential issues, so troubleshooting can begin promptly, minimising any downtime.
“Compared to other HSCN suppliers, Syntura were a lot more professional and did what they said they were going to do.”– Viv Barrett, Director of DEOS Consultancy
Connecting to HSCN from Anywhere
Mobile scanning units need secure remote access to certain systems that are only available via HSCN.
This access was delivered through a combination of resilient mobile broadband, VPNs, and HSCN connectivity to the cloud.
Clients conducting breast cancer screening can now access the NHS National Breast Screening System (NBSS) from anywhere.
Ensuring Future Scalability
The NHS is spending £2 billion digitising its workflows and modernising its technology. Healthtech startups like DEOS will play a critical role in helping the NHS to digitise its approach.
By using Syntura’s scalable technology platforms, DEOS can effortlessly and rapidly ramp up its hosting capacity and connectivity to meet rising demand.
About Syntura
Syntura is a technology specialist, providing expert advice, infrastructure and managed services to organisations.
We help dozens of Healthcare, Medical and Pharmaceutical firms connect to the NHS’s Health and Social Care Network.
Our cloud hosting makes it simpler for Health/Medical startups to host their applications in the UK in a way that’s compatible with HSCN access. We also provide private connectivity to AWS/Azure/Google, so apps hosted there can be connected to HSCN.
Syntura Group Limited is a HSCN consumer network service provider, and a registered supplier under the UK Government’s Network Services 3 and G-Cloud 14 procurement frameworks.