VNA versus PACS: The 13 main differences

Medical images in DICOM format are very common, but they are not the only medical image formats. Depending on the specialty, the variety of file formats and clinical information varies and in all cases there is the same level of sensitivity with which it must be handled to comply with proper management.

A PACS (Picture Archive Communications System) helps you make, organize and store information related to medical images, which helps you optimize workflows, while on the other hand, VNA (Neutral Provider Archive) is an easily accessible technology that allows you to share and view medical images and relevant information for clinical purposes in a standard format, that is, not necessarily a DICOM format.

Both a PACS and a VNA work as useful tools in laboratories, hospitals or any other medical facility that requires sharing these files. Its main key difference can be summarized as follows: level of interconnectivity. However, there are many more elements that differentiate them that you should evaluate.

The way in which your technological environment is configured defines the need or choice to have one or both: PACS versus VNA. The most common thing is that in your systems you also have electronic medical records, hospital management systems (finances, schedule, billing, etc.), among others, which will need access to the data of all the studies you carry out. However, precisely because of the relevance of the issue of data security, it is important to analyze in detail how technologies guarantee data protection, protocol monitoring or recovery processes in the event of technical disasters.

To help you identify the key points, we have listed 13 main differences in different aspects to compare the two types of platforms:

13 Differences Between VNA and PACS

1. A PACS allows you to preserve and recover digital images that are captured by radiology and imaging modalities. A VNA can view files that weren't necessarily captured by a modality originally.
2. A PACS allows you to digitally archive and send images and reports, eliminating the need for plate printing. Because a VNA has intuitive interfaces and reads NON-DICOM files, it's much more flexible for a variety of format types.
3. A PACS allows you to modify, take measurements and other edits to image data or the patient's study, helping you to interpret the images in a more comprehensive way. A VNA simply connects to external hardware or viewers, that is, it doesn't focus so much on the user experience but on how and from where it extracts other files, which is universal.
4. A PACS can give you the option of digitizing or burning CDs from the DICOM files it reads, while a VNA only opens files with standard interfaces.
5. A PACS has additional features such as integration with a RIS (Radiology Information System) or an EMR (electronic medical record), which allows you to have more robust and complete hospital management and processes, while a VNA is attached to the visualization and storage of images or NON-DICOM files, without other added functionality.
6. A PACS has features that allow you to search in a simple or advanced way for the studies and images you are looking for, as well as to obtain, extract and share those files (studies), on the other hand, a VNA can display the files one by one, but not necessarily with advanced search or organization capabilities.
7. A PACS has integrated storage that automatically stores all activities and studies with complete series, unlimitedly in the cloud, while a VNA may or may not have storages that are usually independent of the provider.

8. Although a VNA is usually logged in just like a PACS, IT security management is limited. In other words, a PACS, being a cloud-integrated development, works by prioritizing security and complying with high standards of compliance with regulations that regulate security and data protection.

9. A PACS includes a variety of features to facilitate the work of specific radiologists and all users with a specialized technical profile, such as dictation, transcription and voice recognition. On the other hand, a VNA does not include any of these features.
10. A VNA is usually a good option if you are interested in providing medical care in an environment where interoperability is essential. They connect seamlessly to other devices, exchange data between departments, including the PACS enabled in the organization.
11. Most PACS have certain limitations in terms of file readability, so it could hinder exchange and agile communication in your company.
12. A VNA works regardless of the patented image generation system you use, so the way in which the storage is designed and operates is very different since everything is centralized and not divided into silos as in the case of a PACS.
13. A VNA can help you better manage different specialty areas within a hospital (cardiology, etc.) A PACS is limited to the area of radiology and imaging.

In short: VNA vs PACS

Both help you reduce operating costs, optimize and minimize all time. The efficiency of these tools results in significant savings for your company in general and brings about a better patient experience, as well as easier, more uniform, safer and more comfortable hospital management.