Patient data is highly sensitive. Diagnostic devices such as CT Scanners, MRI machines and X-ray machines (to name just a few) generate huge amounts of imaging data. Healthcare providers are generally required to keep images for seven years, with many keeping them for longer. The HIPAA Privacy Rule requires a HIPAA covered entity to maintain adult patients' records for six years; two years if a patient dies. Most records are needed for years, if not decades.
Patient monitoring, drug delivery systems, RFID readers – are all subject to stringent regulations. Organizations need to monitor who is accessing (or restrict who can access) the information in a centralized healthcare data archive. Backup copies or replicated data must be kept as part of disaster recovery. Data is in many different formats, subject to legal requirements and privacy laws. On top of that, all non-electronic patient records must now be converted to digital format.
To meet the legal stipulations and run your organization efficiently, data storage must be compliant, available, future-proof and secure – with long-term scalability.
