If you cannot find the answer to your questions here. Please contact us.
How does it work?
After signing up for a PacsDrive account you must download and install a small application. This application is the PacsDrive client and acts as a gateway
between your imaging modalities and our datacenter. Once the modalities or PACS are configured to communicate with the PacsDrive client, your images will begin to be automatically
archived over a secure connection.
Will I have to buy additional hardware?
No. PacsDrive will run in the background on any existing Microsoft Windows workstation that is connected to your network. However, we recommend that our customers install the
PacsDrive client onto a machine that has a relatively low workload.
What kind of internet connection is required?
PacsDrive will work with any type of Internet connection. However, we strongly recommend a fast broadband connection
to ensure your images are safely archived in a timely manner.
Will it work with my PACS or medical imaging equipment?
PacsDrive is DICOM compliant and will work with virtually every type of PACS and digital medical imaging modalities. Check with your
PACS or equipment vendors to be sure they are also DICOM compatible.
Can I DICOM query and retrieve from PacsDrive?
PacsDrive is strictly an offsite archiving service. This is what we excel at. Currently, we do not support DICOM query and retrieve capabilities. PacsDrive is not meant to function as a datasource but as a permanent and safe
offsite backup. That being said, we listen to our customers and would welcome comments on such a feature.
I've installed the PacsDrive software, now what?
PacsDrive will now operate as a part of your imaging network. You must configure your PACS or imaging modalities to send images
to PacsDrive. The default DICOM options are: (AE Title: pacsdrive, Port: 4024, IP Address: <ip address of the machine you installed PacsDrive onto>).
It is worth noting that the machine you install the PacsDrive client onto should be using a static ip address. If you are unfamiliar
with how to do this, please consult your IT personnel, or if you are feeling adventurous do it yourself by following these instructions.
How are my images protected?
Your images are stored in a fully fault-tolerant and redundant storage array. Your images are stored encrypted and are
replicated across multiple datacenters.
How can I recover my data?
You can download individual studies by logging into your PacsDrive account. Also, PacsDrive can ship you an external hard drive or DVD of your entire archive. You pay only the cost of the DVD or hard drive plus shipping.
What operating systems are supported by PacsDrive?
We support Microsoft Windows class operating systems (XP, Vista, Server editions). The PacsDrive client requires the .NET 2.0 framework (download here).
We have future development plans to build a plugin for the Mac OS X DICOM viewer, Osirix.
What if I need to store more than 250,000 studies?
It may be time for you to consider migrating to your own storage solution. However, we do provide the option to upgrade your PacsDrive account above the Premium
account. Please contact us for a quote.
How does PacsDrive offer this service at this price?
PacsDrive is able to reduce expenses by automating many of our business processes. We operate without expensive staff overhead, like sales associates, and instead focus
on providing a high level of service and customer satisfaction.
What level of computer skill do I need to make PacsDrive work at my clinic?
Installing PacDrive is as simple as following an installation setup wizard. However, some knowledge of your modalities' software or PACS is needed to connect
them to PacsDrive via DICOM. We are willing to help as best as we can in this regard, however, because each PACS and modality varies your best
resource is to contact your respective modality/PACS vendor.
I have a RAID controlled data server. Why would I need PacsDrive?
While RAID can provide a level of redundancy, it is quickly losing acceptance as form of permanent backup. PacsDrive makes use
of multi-layer replication across geographically diverse datacenters. This infrastructure is costly for a small
to medium sized healthcare provider to implement, and we feel this is where PacsDrive can provide value.
Do you offer a Service Level Agreement (SLA)?
Currently, we do not have an SLA. Our primary objective as a business is to ensure your data is secure and maintains its integrity. We
will do everything in our power to achieve this objective. To date, we have never experienced a known data loss within our system.