Study of Myocardial Perfusion and Coronary Anatomy Imaging Roles in CAD

SPARC Diagnostic Study Transport

 

In order to ensure an efficient transfer of studies between locations and the SPARC image repository, and to minimize the burden imposed on the different participating institutions, we have procured capacity on AG Mednet, a diagnostic imaging network dedicated exclusively to the secure, reliable transport and delivery of DICOM studies.  The AG Mednet infrastructure consists of local DICOM gateways and a private 10 Gigabit fiber-optic network.  Brigham and Women’s Hospital is already connected and we have tested the network for reliability and speed. The purpose of this note is explain how the flow of SPARC studies will work, and to collect the data necessary to be able to ship to you the DICOM gateway.

 

DICOM Gateway: Description and Requirements

 

The gateway is a DICOM device residing on the same network as the modality or PACS from which you will be sending the studies.  In order to route studies to the SPARC repository, you will need to add an Application Entity Title (AET) to your modality or PACS.  The AET information will be provided upon receipt of the enclosed Authorization Form.   The gateway resides on the same network as the sending modality or PACS, behind the hospital firewall, and needs connectivity (outbound only) over your existing Internet connection.

 

Security and HIPAA

 

We chose to procure this infrastructure in part because of its strong security model and, in particular, the fact that it will not require the opening of any inbound ports through an institution’s firewall.  Your hospital security staff / firewall administrator will need to know the following:  (1) the gateway will require a static, internal, non-routable IP address; (2) The outbound ports used by the gateway are 22, 1098, 1099, 4445 and 8193.  In many cases, outbound communication is already enabled over these ports.  If that is not already the case, the firewall will need to be configured to allow outbound traffic over these ports.  The gateway does not require any inbound ports to be open on your firewall.

 

All studies are encrypted as they are received by the gateway from the modality or PACS and prior to any local storage or routing onto the backbone.  This encryption is specific to the SPARC repository, which holds the unique key to decrypt them.  Another advantage of this infrastructure is tight transport security without the need for VPNs.

 

With regards to HIPAA, SPARC has signed a “Business Associate Agreement” with the AG Mednet and has bound it to the required HIPAA chain.  A copy of the agreement is enclosed.  If necessary or desired, AG Mednet will execute a similar agreement with your institution, which can be the one we have or one provided by you.

 

Installation

 

In order to ship the SPARC gateway, all study participants need to complete the enclosed form (AG Mednet Participant Informational Form).  Once completed, a gateway will be pre-configured and shipped directly to the participant at the address specified on the form.  The gateway will include installation instructions, as well as a 24 hour toll free number for on-going support both during installation and later during normal operation.  Installation takes under 2 hours.