PACS: the silent revolution

Abstract

More than 15 years ago the idea of a Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) and a filmless hospital was created. In a PACS environment images are acquired, read, communicated and stored digitally. After many years of unsuccessful attempts and prototype installations, the necessary hardware components for a successful PACS installation are now readily available. However, software development is still lagging behind. Only very recently, software developers have realized that it is not sufficient for PACS software to store, communicate and display images, but that PACS software should effectively support the radiologist in the task of interpreting and communicating imaging findings through context-dependent default display arrangements, work-flow management, radiological and hospital information systems integration, and computer-assisted diagnosis. This review examines hard- and software requirements for efficient PACS operation, analyses costs and benefits, and discusses future developments.

Evaluating the Implementation of Picture Archiving and Communication Systems in Newfoundland and Labrador—a Cost Benefit Analysis

“…38 Direct costs are those immediately involved in operating the DI department and would include costs such as the film supplies, chemicals, courier fees, staff, equipment, maintenance fees, and storage space. 6,7,39 Indirect costs would include intangibles such as enhanced patient care, improved patient outcomes, reduced length of stay and duplicate exams, and improved clinician satisfaction. 6,40,41 If we include other variables such as facility type, patient population, and the level of pre-PACS site efficiency in the financial model, then it is obvious that each study will have its own unique features and thus provide little in the way of opportunities for comparability with other studies.…”

An ontology based approach in health information systems: Blood test ontology example

“…Hastanelerin radyoloji bölümlerinde kullanılan PACS Görüntü Arşivleme ve İletişim Sistemleri (Picture Archiving and Communication Systems) [5], hem hastane içinde hem de hastane dışında kullanılan LIS Laboratuvar Bilgi Sistemleri (Laboratory Information Systems) [6], çoğunluğu aile hekimlerinin ve uzmanların muayenehanelerinde bulunan oldukça fazla ve farklı yapıdaki EHR Elektronik Sağlık Kayıtları (Electronic Health Records) [7], [8] sağlık alanında yinelenen dağıtık ve çok çeşitli yapıya gösterilebilecek örneklerdir.…”

Upload capacity and time-to-display of an image Web system during simultaneous up- and download processes

“…Together with the increasing importance of hospital-wide image distribution as a prerequisite to achieve cost-savings and campus-wide process optimizations in picture archiving and communications systems (PACS) projects [1,2,3,4], there is an increasing demand for proper data on the performance and configuration of Web-based image distribution systems. A sufficient amount of information exists for the client performance and requirements [5,6,7], but the available material on the important server component is dedicated to the download properties [8].…”