The CARA Approach for Long-Term Preservation and Exploitation of Medical Images and Reports

Storing images and medical reports for long periods of time is becoming a challenge for medical institutions. Technology developed to collect detailed images from patients' bodies is producing an increasing quantity of large files that need to be stored for many years and to remain accessible when requested. This context has driven CRP Henri Tudor and the Health Ministry of Luxembourg to collaborate in the definition and implementation of a common project, named CARA (Carnet Radiologique). The main objective of this project is to set up IT solutions to improve the quality of the information available in the National Electronic Medical Record (EMR) without excessively increasing the size of this database; and to provide appropriated services for health professionals to access, manage and use, according to strict security policies, the content of the EMR.