Colby Dillion first to acquire PARCA's CHEA certification

Colby Dillion is a senior software engineer at PACSHealth, LLC, which develops software for monitoring PACS systems and radiation dose. The Scottsdale, Arizona-based company develops software systems for medical imaging technology. Its PACSHealth and DoseMonitor applications use advanced monitoring and reporting tools to improve PACS work flow and throughput. Dillion is a 13-year veteran of healthcare IT, and recently became the first to become a Certified Healthcare Enterprise Architect (CHEA) from PARCA.

Colby Dillion, senior software
engineer for PACSHealth, LLC,
is the first to be CHEA certified

Q. What made you decide to pursue CHEA certification?

I view the entire lineup of PARCA exams to be oriented to those people responsible for system implementation and integration. CHEA has the much deserved title of "capstone" in this line of certifications.

Q. Do you feel that IT executives need to “up their game” in face of the changes occurring with PAC/RIS systems and integration with EHRs and other challenges coming with healthcare reform?

The changes coming with healthcare reform will force everyone to "up their game," especially those in executive positions. PARCA certifications build a solid foundation for the technical requirements coming with healthcare reform.

PACS News Roundup

Whatever else you say about Meaningful Use, it has been a powerful force driving more integration of healthcare information systems. The ultimate goal is to develop systems that deliver the complete patient record, including images to the right provider at the needed time. Having managed the evolving integration of PACS and RIS systems, PACs administrators are poised to play a key role with other healthcare IT professionals in the integration of these systems with electronic health records. The articles below touch on several key aspects of this next big challenge in healthcare IT.

SIIM 13: Panel dicusses the promise of HIEs in medical imaging

DIAGNOSTICIMAGING —June 6, 2013 – Only a tiny fraction of the health information exchanges in the U.S. today share medical images, but James Philbin, PhD, of Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions says HIEs have the potential to transform health care. Philbin spoke as a member of a panel discussing the promise of HIEs at SIIM 13 in June. The experts discussed the obstacles for transmitting medical images across a health organization and new web-enabled technologies already available or being developed to overcome some of these obstacles.

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Why is giving patients control of their medical images a good practice?

HEALTHIMAGING – May 17, 2013 – The more complicated and cumbersome it is for providers to access patients’ imaging histories, the more likely it is for them to order duplicative exams and for patients to face delays in care and be exposed to excessive radiation. Enabling patients to receive and share results of imaging exams empowers patients to be truly engaged in and actively participate in decisions about their health. Having control of their medical images makes it more practical for patients to seek and receive vital advice on potential alternative therapies or options that best fit them.

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