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My data is, well, it’s in the cloud?

Cloud Technology in Healthcare

Recently, a blog was posted in Diagnostic Imaging entitled Cloud Computing Creates Climate Change in Teleradiology in which the author, Joe Moock, discussed the benefits of cloud computing for teleradiology.  Reading this post led me to ask myself, is this “cloud” thing something new? I have been fascinated recently with the use of the term “cloud” to describe hosted computer services, like it is the greatest technology advancement since, well, sliced bread.  Technology vendors are announcing cloud based services right and left, with Apple recently joining the likes of Salesforce, Google, and Microsoft with their latest announcement of the Apple iCloud.

The “cloud” is really not new technology, but instead is a new marketing concept that answers the question, “How do you explain technology concepts to non-technical people?” In this case, the technology is a combination of software applications and servers designed to serve multiple users and organizations, and the Internet.  Tools like Google mail (GMail) and picture sharing applications like Kodak Gallery, and yes, even Facebook are examples of hosted applications that could be considered “clouds”.  These tools have been called other names before, such as hosted services and Application Service Providers (ASPs).  Telling your CEO that you want to run your email system on someone else’s servers may set a different mind set than saying, we want to move our email to “the cloud”, especially when the gigantic marketing engines of the likes of Apple, Microsoft, and Google are all touting how great this cloud thing really is.

There can be no argument that these “cloud” based solutions can provide a cost savings to many companies that cannot afford large capital investments in their own solutions, are ill-equipped to manage  their own solutions, or who simply do not consider these types of solutions core to their business; there are still trade offs to choosing to run in the cloud.  A few examples of this are: 1) customization of applications through cloud based solutions is possible, but less feasible than it is when a company controls their own applications; 2) there may be a question or insecurity about who actually controls, has access to, or even owns the data that is stored in the cloud; 3) if access to the cloud is lost in any way, then a company may be powerless to access critical data or run critical applications, and has little control over restoring service to those applications.  In considering the above trade offs, companies can make informed decisions about whether it makes sense to run certain applications in the cloud.

Cloud technology is also not new to the Healthcare industry.  Hosted data archiving, PACS, and RIS solutions have been around for some time now.  However, the real issue may have been concern over regulatory compliance and data ownership.  By entrusting a third party as the shepherd of your medical data, are you taking a risk?  In effect, this adds a 4th trade off to the list I suggested above: 4) are there regulatory considerations or restrictions that would stop me from running my solution in the cloud. The real innovation that I expect to see in the months and years ahead are regulatory changes that address the use of third party hosted solutions, and effectively answer this 4th trade off. While efficiency is certainly generated by running in the “cloud”, and in essence, a teleradiology service in itself can really be considered “cloud radiology” (My Radiologist is “in the cloud”), there are always considerations to take.

In the case of radiology, and really healthcare cloud computing in general, the considerations should be: 1) how do I mitigate the risk of loss of access to the “cloud” when my patient’s health depends on it; 2) how do I ensure that the results I get back from the cloud (downloading of images, format of reports, accuracy of radiology interpretations, etc) meet the quality and format standards of my department; 3) by using the cloud, can I lower the cost of providing quality healthcare services to my patients while still adhering to regulatory standards, thus making quality healthcare more accessible to a larger patient population?  These are all questions and considerations that I deal with day-to-day as the CTO of a national radiology services provider.

I look forward to hearing your feedback and having an open discussion with you about how you see the “Cloud” and healthcare interacting in the months and years ahead.  As will be my trend here in this blog post, and my posts to come, I am interested in sharing my opinion with you- the healthcare community.  But, I am also interested in your opinions.  We are all in this together.

-Jesse Salen, CTO, ONRAD, Inc


Kyle Henneberry, M.D.

Associate Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Kyle Henneberry is a radiologist, health-tech innovator and one of the founders and principals of Direct Radiology. A native of Spokane, Washington, he graduated with honors in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University, received his medical degree from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and completed radiology residency at the University of Colorado. Dr. Henneberry has United States, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

Jerry Lee

Chief Technology Officer

Jerry Lee has over 25 years of experience in healthcare IT. and has been with ONRAD since 2013. As the CTO, he is responsible for developing the organization’s technology strategy including IT infrastructure, application development, data analytics, cybersecurity and overall risk management. Lee’s focus is on strategic road mapping, leveraging emerging technologies and business intelligence to automate, streamline and optimize business processes. He previously worked as a senior healthcare IT consultant, where he implemented best practices, policies & procedures, and risk mitigation strategies for a variety of clients. He also previously worked as the Business Intelligence and Analytics Project Manager for a leading healthcare SaaS organization. He graduated with a B.S. from the University of California, Irvine.

Leandra Hutchinson

President, Direct Radiology

Leandra Hutchinson joined ONRAD alongside the acquisition of Direct Radiology in December 2024. Hutchison has broad experience in the healthcare industry, spending her career in healthcare technology and innovation. Prior to joining Direct Radiology in 2019, Leandra was the co-founder and Vice President of Operations of a health-tech company specializing in radiology analytics and healthcare asset management. Previously, Leandra worked in marketing, strategy, and operations roles for more than 10 years at a $7B integrated delivery system of hospitals and medical centers with more than 900 employed physicians. Hutchison earned her Bachelor’s degree from Kent State University and graduate certificate in health care policy and administration and MBA from the University of Toledo.

Ron Jackson

President, AllRads

Ron Jackson serves as President of AllRads at ONRAD, bringing over 30 years of comprehensive healthcare leadership across the provider, payer, and technology landscape. With deep expertise in radiology, he has spent more than 25 years in revenue cycle management, operations, finance, and practice management roles at leading organizations including HBOC, Per-Se Technologies, McKesson, and Zotec Partners. At ONRAD, Jackson leads day-to-day operations and strategic execution of AllRads, drawing on his cross-functional experience to drive efficiency, scalability, and growth. His 360-degree perspective of the healthcare ecosystem uniquely positions him to align organizational strategy with market dynamics in teleradiology and imaging services.

Alix Vincent, M.D.

Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Alix Vincent was one of the founding physicians at ONRAD. With over 26 years of radiology leadership experience, Dr. Vincent oversees medical staff activities, including patient safety, quality, and risk management initiatives. He manages ONRAD’s Regional Medical Directors, evaluates staff physicians, and drives clinical improvements to enhance physician alignment within the organization. Additionally, Dr. Vincent leads medical operations and played a key role in developing the company’s PACS and RIS Network capabilities. He previously served as Chief Radiologist and Chairman of the Radiology Department at Riverside Regional Medical Center. Dr. Vincent holds an M.D. in Radiology from Loma Linda University.

Lyn Mize

Chief Financial Officer

Lyn Mize serves as Chief Financial Officer at ONRAD, a role she has held since June 2022. With over two decades of experience in financial leadership, Mize has held CFO positions at various healthcare organizations, including Sunset Media Entertainment and Oncology Convergence, Inc. She also served as Vice President of Accounting at Health Choice and System Director of Accounting at Scottsdale Healthcare. Mize has a strong background in financial management, having worked with Banner Health and Greeley Medical Clinic, where she provided financial leadership for multi-specialty clinics and physician networks. Mize holds extensive expertise in driving financial performance and strategic growth across the healthcare sector and has a B.S. from DeVry University and a Masters from Grand Canyon University.

Dave Engert

President & CEO

Dave Engert started at Onrad as President and CEO in 2017. Engert is a seasoned healthcare executive with over 35 years of experience and a proven track record of leading and transforming healthcare technology organizations to drive growth and improve operational and financial performance. He previously served as President and CEO of Nighthawk Radiology, the largest teleradiology provider, and led its successful sale to vRad. Engert also held the role of President and CEO of Quality Care Solutions (QCSI), a leading provider of health insurance software, which was sold to Trizetto. Additionally, he has held leadership roles at McKesson, HBOC, and other notable companies and invested in several healthcare technology ventures. Engert holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Louisiana State University.