Conventional PACS Data Migration

In Conventional PACS Data Migration, image data is retrieved from the legacy PACS solely through DICOM Query/Retrieve transfers. These transfers may be DICOM third-party transfers, wherein the migration appliance requests each study to be moved directly from the source to the destination PACS, or they may be store-and-forward transfers, where the migration appliance retrieves each study into internal storage and subsequently sends it to the destination archive.

When to use Conventional Migration

Conventional migration may be appropriate or required in cases where Rapid Migration is infeasible, such as extraction from a source archive provided by an Application Service Provider (ASP) that stores some or all of the data off-site. Conventional migration may be the only option for legacy systems with an installed base too small to justify engineering Rapid Migration tools.

Migratek conventional methods may be enhanced by information extracted from system internals, allowing, for example, retrieval of tape-based data in the order it is written on the media. Migratek Conventional methods enable the same sophisticated data cleansing and processing methods we use for Rapid Migration.

Conventional vs. Rapid Migration

The Conventional Data Migration Method, as shown in the figure below, pulls data from the DICOM query/retrieve interface of the legacy PACS archive. Since the migration may take a year or more, some vendors optimize the migration appliance to minimize inconvenience to clinical operations during the lengthy migration period. “Smart” algorithms that use appointment schedules, registration messages from the target PACS, and general knowledge of PACS retrieval patterns, may predictively manage the migration process, thereby reducing the workflow disruptions that occur when needed data must be fetched from the old archive.

The Rapid Data Migration Method finishes the migration during installation of the new system. It does so by bypassing the processors and networks of the old PACS and reading data directly from the database and storage media of the legacy system at up to 1 Terabyte/day. This method requires engineering specific to each type of source system.

Conventional Migration Advantages No internal knowledge of source PACS required Minimal dependence on source PACS: A single design serves a broad range of source systems Leverages knowledge in target PACS Information from target system can be used to trigger patient folder migration proactively Low cost of migration equipment Disadvantages Lengthy period of migration Legacy PACS archive consumes space and maintenance expense Failure risk for aging legacy system Lengthy business engagement raises costs and delays receivables for the vendor Workflow disruptions when studies must be retrieved "stat" from the legacy system Customer management attention and staff training needed for operating during migration Not usable for old PACS that lack DICOM query/retrieve interface

Rapid Migration Advantages Data migrated before go-live Legacy PACS may be removed sooner Space savings Maintenance cost savings Less risk of breakdown for old PACS No disruptive delays fetching from old PACS Minimal dependence on target PACS Disadvantages Migration appliance must be customized for each type of source PACS Source PACS vendor may obstruct "reverse engineering" by competitors Greater hardware requirements for migration appliance: Processing power Drives for legacy media Target PACS must be able to handle high DICOM input rates More intensive site presence required during migration

Migratek tooling supports both Conventional and Rapid migration methods. Migratek will make Rapid Migration available for a growing number of legacy systems as the market demands. Migratek’s tools build source-specific modules on the Migratek dicomBLAST™ migration appliance platform, allowing rapid customization for each source system. Still, the Conventional method will be preferred for some projects, based on local business needs, and also covers source systems not yet served by Rapid Migration services. Migratek can employ either method, or combinations of the two, as needed to meet the requirements of each customer setting. The result is the most rapid and thorough PACS data migration services available today.

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