Coleman said his cardiology imaging informatics began about four years ago when the system's leadership decided it was time to digitize the cardiology imaging workflow. This was due to a combination of reasons, ranging from the sunsetting of legacy systems to the need for better efficiencies across their many hospital and clinical sites. Their strategy for creating a cardiology imaging system, which recently rolled out in one location and will go system-wide in 2020, was much different than for the radiology system. He offered several key considerations:

1: As part of a transition strategy, consider how to build a system to allow transition across many modalities/users/sites, all quickly.
2: As part of a transition strategy, have a plan to ensure studies are available in the legacy and new systems.
3: As part of a transition strategy, ensure there is no impact on patient care.
4: As part of financial consideration, the costs of development and testing of complex integrations should be considered.
5: Carefully consider vendors. Cardiac projects tend to be based on a “deconstructed” model requiring up to four or five vendors who must be able to work together.

Above all, said Coleman, be sure the system is constructed for the right reason - patient lives depend on the outcome.

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