Hitachi Data Systems’ vice president of worldwide sales operations discusses how his company addresses data storage issues in healthcare, how ROI should be expected as part of any data storage solution and how Hitachi Data Systems sees the future

Healthcare Technology: How can storage solutions from Hitachi Data Systems contribute to efficiency in the healthcare field?

Lewis Winning: With the continued adoption of electronic medical records and imaging, healthcare providers are becoming more dependent on robust clinical systems. Instant access to patient information is a critical component of the healthcare delivery process. Unavailability of patient information could impact patient care, reduce revenue and increase costs.

Hitachi Data Systems offers truly integrated solutions to meet these systems requirements from both a clinical as well as business application perspective, encompassing high-performance storage systems to business continuity solutions. Whether it is planning, design or implementation, experts from our global solution services group can ensure that the solutions we are bringing to our customers in the healthcare field add value to their business. As an example, we have offerings such as the risk analysis workshop and other business continuity services to help you assess the degree of risk your organization faces and determine logical design options to deal with the issues surrounding business continuity.

HCT: Should a healthcare system expect ROI through implementation of these solutions?

LW: Yes, it should be expected and is something that Hitachi Data Systems can deliver with its storage solutions. The ROI analysis will show the benefits of a storage services strategy in support of business and clinical applications. The ROI exercise should include several variables over a specific time frame; for example, five years. The analysis should include costs mapped against benefits – productivity gains, greater application availability and deferred storage purchases.

HCT: How critical is compatibility of the data being stored in the bigger picture of interoperability?

LW: Retention periods are driven not only by regulatory requirements but also by business and clinical needs. For example, even though patient imaging files may need to be saved for seven or more years to meet government compliance regulations, a physician may require retention periods for longer durations. These retention time frames will sometimes exceed the useful life of a particular technology – and often exceed the depreciated life of the technologies.

As technology advances continue, current systems will be replaced by newer solutions. Adoption of technology standards is critical for migrating your information from older technologies to emerging interoperable solutions. Information stored on proprietary systems may be “stuck” on those systems, requiring maintaining equipment years after its useful life.

HCT: Does Hitachi Data Systems provide solutions for disaster recovery in a healthcare setting?

LW: Yes. Hitachi Data Systems is a proven leader in providing business continuity and disaster recovery solutions in all segments of the market we touch. The healthcare market is no exception. Much like the financial, manufacturing, telecommunication and government institutions that Hitachi Data Systems has served for many years with this requirement, proven disaster recovery practices for nonstop data availability have become critical to healthcare institutions in order to survive any type of outage. Hitachi Data Systems can design and implement a solution based on your specific clinical and business recovery objectives.

HCT: How will data storage be different in 10 years? In 25 years?

LW: Technology will always evolve because business requirements will demand it. Storage technologies will continue to be a critical enabler of business and clinical solutions. We will see ongoing advances in performance, management, availability and capacity of storage solutions. For example, the current disk technology has an estimated limit of 100 to 200 gigabits per square inch. HAMR [heat-assisted magnetic recording] is a future technology that could theoretically store 50 terabits per square inch. The advantage that the healthcare field has in dealing with Hitachi Data Systems is that we are inventors of technology. We are the only storage solutions provider in the market that can build storage solutions from the ground up as we look at technology platforms. This gives customers that deploy Hitachi Data Systems solutions a competitive edge, whether it is for revenue or profits, or battling medical issues through research and treatment. IT organizations that adopt emerging technologies will be better equipped to provide the services demanded by their business and clinical constituents, resulting in a competitive advantage. IT organizations can plan for future technologies by implementing standardized, nonproprietary solutions today. Implementing a storage virtualization solution offers protection of current storage investments and the flexibility to accommodate future storage systems.