"We look at thousands of images at our practice, and a single exam can involve multiple images, so we absolutely cannot compromise on performance," Willy says. "We needed workstations that were designed from the outset with exceptional performance as a driving goal."

To get the performance needed, the group's infrastructure included HP xw6400 Workstations, 250 HP Compaq dc7800 small form-factor PCs, and dozens of HP ProLiant servers.

To view and examine the massive collection of data produced during the clinic's diagnostic-image studies, the Scottsdale clinics use GE Healthcare's picture-archiving and communications system (PACS), which has been standardized on HP workstations. The PACS help eliminate delays typically experienced at film-based operations and provide patients with critical information sooner. In turn, radiologists can access the images and results from anywhere on the network and view them on high-resolution workstations.

"The imaging applications that radiologists use can be memory and processor intensive, so they perform dramatically better on a workstation-class machine," Willy says.

Since the practice began using the new equipment, the clinic's radiologists can more reliably test and interpret images, Willy says, while experiencing fewer failures and less downtime, leading to faster diagnoses. He points out that the day-to-day responsibilities of radiologists put great demands on the IT infrastructure. The clinic and its radiologists need equipment that can handle the large file size of the images with speed and ease, while effortlessly connecting with the other machines within the clinics' family of locations. Most importantly, the equipment must perform at this intensity while maintaining the highest levels of accuracy.

"The workstation needs to display exams in a manner that's quick, convenient and makes the radiologist as efficient as possible," he says. "We view the workstations like servers. We expect them to be available almost 24x7.

"There was a predisposition toward HP because our company had a history of good experience with its products and personnel," offers Willy. For Scottsdale Medical Imaging, the hardware was familiar enough to make it easier for Willy and his staff to effectively support the infrastructure as the practice expanded.

The small form factor and power of the desktop units allow them to perform in less-demanding medical-image processing, all while increasing computing bandwidth. Scottsdale's radiologists use desktops for digital mammography exams across clinics in place of larger and more energy-intensive equipment.

"The performance, size and reliability of a cost-effective PC are the greatest benefits for us," says Willy. "We rely on technology to help provide sometimes life-saving diagnoses. Month in and month out, our equipment delivers the performance and reliability our patients and their physicians require of us."

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