Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long does a typical PACS interoperability project take?
Project timelines vary by scope, but most mid-size hospitals complete discovery, interface development, testing, and go-live in 12–16 weeks. Multi-site NHS Trusts or organisations with complex legacy estates may require phased roll-outs over 6–9 months. During scoping we provide a detailed Gantt chart that outlines every milestone, stakeholder dependency, and critical path so you can plan change-control windows with confidence.
2. Can you integrate legacy PACS with modern cloud platforms?
Yes. We specialise in creating vendor-neutral gateways that translate proprietary protocols into standard DICOM, HL7, and FHIR messages. This allows legacy on-prem PACS to coexist with modern cloud solutions—whether hosted on Azure, AWS, or private G-Cloud infrastructure. Our team also implements image pre-fetching and intelligent caching so clinicians experience near-instant study retrieval even when data resides off-site.
3. Will there be downtime during data migration?
Our migration methodology is designed for zero unplanned downtime. We run source and target systems in parallel, using mirrored storage and transaction-logging to keep datasets in sync. Cutovers occur out of hours and are fully reversible until clinical validation is complete. Detailed rollback plans and “go/no-go” checkpoints ensure patient care remains uninterrupted throughout the process.
4. How do you ensure data security and GDPR compliance?
Security is baked into every stage of the engagement. Data is encrypted in transit (TLS 1.2+) and at rest (AES-256). We conduct Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) and align with the NHS Data Security & Protection Toolkit. Role-based access controls, audit trails, and real-time intrusion detection safeguard sensitive information. Our hosting partners are ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials Plus, and NHS IG-Toolkit certified.
5. Do you provide post-deployment support?
Absolutely. After go-live you transition to our managed services team, who deliver 24/7 monitoring from our UK NOC. Automated alerts integrate with our ITSM platform for rapid triage and resolution. Quarterly service reviews track KPIs such as uptime, study retrieval times, and security patch status. Optional continuous-improvement packs add feature enhancements and workflow optimisation.
6. What is the pricing model?
We offer three commercial models: (1) Fixed-price for clearly defined scopes, ideal for budget certainty; (2) Outcome-based pricing tied to measurable KPIs such as study-access latency; and (3) Time-and-materials for agile or exploratory projects. All models include a transparent breakdown of licence costs, professional services, and support fees. A tailored proposal follows the initial assessment workshop.