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Key steps in enterprise-wide
advanced visualization
Advanced visualization is no longer confined to the workstation,
but successful deployment throughout the healthcare enterprise
requires efficient data management and strong partnerships.
Chris Hafey
B
ringing advanced visualization
to the healthcare enterprise
offers an incredible opportunity
to enhance patient care and improve
efficiency. A goal of this magnitude is
not without challenges, however.
To understand the challenges facing
advanced visualization, it is essential to
appreciate the rapid rate of change in
computed tomography (CT) scanner
technology. Next-generation scanners—
those with >64 slices—represent only a
tiny percentage of the CT market today,
but they are expected to capture an
increasingly larger market segment in
the next few years.
The enormous amount of data gen-
erated by advanced CT scanners cre-
ates several issues that must be
accounted for. First, advanced CT
enables new applications that weren’t
possible before. Second, such applica-
tions are driving the need for enter-
prise-wide access. Third, distribution
of data and clinical applications to the
enterprise must be managed more effi-
ciently than in the past. Otherwise, the
data boom will overwhelm healthcare
networks.
Mr. Hafey is Chief Architect, Vital
Images, Minnetonka, MN.
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As new scanners bring more data to
the picture archiving and communication
systems (PACS) and to radiologists,
there is an increasing need for advanced
visualization, so that the data can be
understood and interpreted. There is also
a need to change the way data are han-
dled on the back end and presented to the
end-user.
One of the most significant ways to
address these challenges is to transition
from a sole focus on stand-alone work-
stations to enterprise deployment. Ad-
vanced imaging capabilities can be
made accessible throughout the enter-
prise through a combination of thin-
client, Web-based, and remote-access
technologies, in addition to traditional
thick-client workstations.
Key components
There are 5 key components of an
effective enterprise-wide advanced visu-
alization system: advanced technology,
volumetric data management, partner-
ships, professional services, and per-
formance.
Advanced technology
Several core technologies enable dis-
tribution of advanced visualization to
the enterprise. The first is graphics pro-
cessing unit (GPU)-based rendering.
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A few years ago, GPUs were available
only on high-end workstations. Now
they are a standard feature in virtually
every PC. Graphics processing units
are getting faster and better, with
advances mainly driven by the gaming
market. Harnessing this power is key
to bringing advanced visualization to
the enterprise.
Volumetric data management
To efficiently scale up to the enter-
prise level and provide the performance
that users expect, it is necessary to stop
handling data on a slice-by-slice basis.
Rather, we must focus on volumetric
representation. Volumetric representa-
tion makes the system more scalable,
increases its speed, and provides a more
consistent user experience.
Volumetric data management also
influences how data are handled inside
the computer itself. A key innovation in
the microprocessor industry is the use of
multiple cores. Today it is fairly com-
mon to buy a PC with 2 or 4 cores. In a
few years, computers may have 64 or
128 cores. Through the use of optimized
multicore algorithms, advanced visual-
ization and volumetric imaging can har-
ness the power of multicore technology
as part of a volumetric data manage-
ment strategy.
December 2008
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Partnerships
Partnerships and relationships are
another key component in bringing
advanced visualization to the enterprise.
It is critical for vendors to partner with
the technological leaders in each indus-
try and to tie them together in a way that
creates a high-performance, powerful
solution. For example, Vital Images
(Minnetonka, MN) has developed a
number of technology partners. NVIDIA
(Santa Clara, CA), a Forbes 2007 Com-
pany of the Year, is the leader in GPU
technology. Intel (Santa Clara, CA) was
the first microprocessor vendor to intro-
duce multicore technology. Microsoft
(Redmond, WA) offers the latest in Web
services. HP (Palo Alto, CA) is the world
leader in server technology.
Business relationships are also key.
Toshiba America Medical Systems
(Tustin, CA), for example, is a leader in
developing volumetric CT scanning.
McKesson (San Francisco, CA) is a rec-
ognized industry leader in medical infor-
mation technology solutions.
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ENTERPRISE-WIDE ADVANCED VISUALIZATION
Professional services
Access to professional services from
the vendor is also critical to the success of
advanced visualization. These services
should maximize system performance
and should include system planning,
installation, integration, workflow opti-
mization, and education. An advanced
visualization vendor must have a profes-
sional services team dedicated to solving
customers’ problems, whether they pur-
chase a turnkey solution or prefer a cus-
tomized solution that necessitates system
modifications before deployment.
Education is a key aspect of profes-
sional services. Not all advanced visual-
ization techniques are intuitive; there-
fore, understanding the technology and
how it works is essential. Vendors must
commit to training users to make the
most of advanced visualization. Users
who can use the system effectively are
essential for its successful deployment in
the enterprise. Vendor educational ser-
vices can come in many forms, including
on-site learning, classroom learning, dis-
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tance learning, and online learning. Edu-
cation must be optimized to meet the
customer’s needs.
Performance
This is the fifth component of an
effective enterprise-wide advanced
visualization system. Customers who
want the best possible system perfor-
mance must ask vendors several ques-
tions, including: How are systems
installed? How are upgrades handled?
Are there test systems? Is there access
to engineers who can immediately
resolve issues? These are all issues that
must be addressed when considering
taking advanced visualization to the
healthcare enterprise.
Conclusion
Considering these key components
when incorporating advanced visualiza-
tion to the enterprise ensures a flexible
solution that is supported by broad clin-
ical applications, efficient data manage-
ment, and consistent performance.
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