Using Amazon HealthImaging for X-rays and Medical Image Analysis

What Is Amazon HealthImaging?

Amazon HealthImaging is a cloud-based service that helps you manage medical images more efficiently. You can store large image files, share them across departments or locations, and even integrate them with tools that help analyze the images—all while keeping patient information safe and secure.

It supports standard medical image formats like DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine), which most imaging systems already use. So you don't need to change how you work completely.

What Problems Does It Solve?

Here are the common challenges healthcare providers face—and how HealthImaging addresses them:

Storage Overload: Medical images take up a lot of space. High-resolution CT scans or MRIs can be gigabytes in size. Over time, this builds up.

With HealthImaging, you store images in the cloud. That means you don't need to add expensive servers or hard drives. You also only pay for what you use, and you can scale up easily as your imaging needs grow.

Slow Access to Files: When a doctor needs to review a scan, waiting for the system to load can be frustrating and risky, especially in emergencies.

HealthImaging lets you retrieve images quickly. It uses “intelligent caching,” meaning the system automatically keeps frequently viewed images accessible. Images load faster, which helps with speedier diagnoses.

Hard-to-Share Images: Sharing scans with another department or a specialist in a different location often involves copying files to CDs or USB drives, or relying on complex systems that don't always work well together.

HealthImaging lets different systems and people access the same images through a secure, cloud-based platform. A radiologist from another city can view the same scan that a doctor just uploaded in the emergency room.

Need for More Support in Image Review: Doctors and radiologists are under pressure to review a large volume of images, and it's easy to miss small details.

While HealthImaging doesn't analyze the images, it works with other AWS services (like Amazon SageMaker or third-party tools) that can help highlight things on a scan that need closer attention, like signs of pneumonia, fractures, or cancer growth. These tools can point out areas of concern for a human expert to review.

Patient Privacy and Compliance: Patient images contain sensitive information. It's essential to keep that data secure and prove you follow privacy laws.

HealthImaging is designed to meet HIPAA regulations. Files are encrypted both while they're stored and while they're being shared. Access is tracked, so you always know who viewed or handled an image.

How HealthImaging Fits into Your Workflow

You don't need to change your entire system to use Amazon HealthImaging. It's built to work with the tools you already use.

For example:

• You can connect your existing PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) or EHR (Electronic Health Record) to HealthImaging.
• You can keep using DICOM files and tags without converting them.
• You can link image storage to patient records, so doctors see everything in one place.

It also supports FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources), a standard health data format that makes sharing and organizing patient information easier.

What You Can Do with It

Here's what HealthImaging lets you do in practical terms:

• Store thousands or even millions of X-rays and scans securely.
• View images instantly from any authorized device, anywhere.
• Connect to other imaging systems or hospitals without special hardware.
• Support medical image analysis using AI tools if you want to add that layer later.
• Control who sees what, and track all access.

Costs and Pricing

Amazon HealthImaging is a pay-as-you-go service. You don't pay upfront or sign a long-term contract. Costs are based on how much data you store and how often you access it.

For example:

• Storing old scans that are rarely viewed is cheaper than storing new ones that are accessed often.
• Uploading, viewing, and downloading images costs money, but the service is designed to be lower than managing your own servers.

This results in lower long-term costs for most healthcare providers, since you only pay for what you use.

How to Get Started

You can start using HealthImaging even if you're a small practice or a single clinic. Here's how to begin:

1. Talk to your IT team or a healthcare tech consultant. Setting up AWS is even simpler if you already use it for other services.
2. Choose what you want to move first. You don't need to transfer every image from day one. Many providers start with a department like radiology or cardiology.
3. Set permissions and policies. Decide who can upload, view, or download images. AWS makes it easy to control access.
4. Test the system. Start with a few cases to ensure they work well with your existing tools.
5. Train your team. Ensure staff know how to find and view images and who to call for help.
   
   

Make Medical Image Management Easier—Get Started with Mactores

Amazon HealthImaging is a reliable and straightforward way to store, view, and manage medical images like X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans. It keeps patient data safe, works with your current systems, and helps doctors get faster access to the images they need to make the right decisions.

Whether you run a single clinic or a large hospital, you can start using it without overhauling your entire setup. You can begin small and expand when ready—there is no need to be a tech expert.

Need help getting started?

Mactores can guide you through every step—from setup to support. The team specializes in helping healthcare teams use AWS tools like HealthImaging correctly. Talk to Mactores today and learn how to improve your image management with less hassle and more confidence.

FAQs

• Do I need to replace my current imaging system (like PACS) to use HealthImaging?

No, you don't need to replace your existing system. Amazon HealthImaging is designed to work alongside the tools you already use. It supports standard formats like DICOM, which can connect with your current PACS or imaging software. You can keep your existing medical image workflows and use HealthImaging for scalable cloud storage, access, and sharing.

• Is HealthImaging safe for storing patient data?

Yes, it's built with strong security and privacy protections. HealthImaging complies with HIPAA and encrypts all image data, both when stored and when being shared. You can set strict access controls and track who views or handles each file. This helps protect patient privacy and supports medical data compliance with healthcare regulations.

• What types of medical images can I store and manage with HealthImaging?

You can store any image that uses the DICOM format, including X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, ultrasounds, PET scans, and more. Since most imaging machines and systems already produce DICOM files, you can upload and manage almost any medical image without needing to convert or change formats.