PACS

Radiology Buyer Offers Economical PACS Solutions

One of the greatest innovations in recent years when it comes to the transfer and archiving of medical records is digital PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication Systems). Digitizing medical records in the DICOM file format is now easier and more affordable than ever – yet some clinics and private offices have hesitated to adopt this new technology because of what they perceive as high cost. Fortunately, Moore's Law applies in this case just as it applies to other kinds of technology.

In simple terms: computing power doubles about every two years while at the same time, the cost of that technology continues to drop substantially. And, if you don't require the “latest and greatest” technology (in truth, a given system can continue to serve its purposes very well for several years after it is first introduced), you can save even more by purchasing pre-owned equipment that is only a year or two old. Such systems can be upgraded easily when required, so there's no need to spend tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars on brand-new technology that in many cases may still have bugs.

If you are not familiar with the use of PACS in radiology or haven't considered it recently, here's a short refresher course: it's nothing more than a type of imaging system, not all that different from PictureViewer or Windows Photo Viewer. However, PACS is specific to medical imaging applications, and unlike the simple picture viewing tools that come pre-installed on home PCs, is capable of loading and displaying digital medical images in all modalities, such as digital x-rays, EKGs, CTs  and MRIs.

The DICOM format (Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine) is similar to the common .jpg and .png files used to display images on the internet, but again, is specific to the medical profession – and stores much more than just image information. The DICOM format includes all types of patient records in .pdf format; all of this information is contained in a single DICOM file, ensuring that images and other records are not accidentally separated.

When patient records can be accessed readily online instead of having to use an antiquated filing system with actual paper and photographic images stored on shelves or in drawers in large rooms that must be searched physically, the cost advantage and time savings can be enormous. In addition, the protection that comes with a digital format that can be password protected and easily backed up to an offsite server makes it much easier to comply with the federal HIPPA law.

Take a look at what is currently available here at Radiology Buyer – your source for PACS  archival solutions at prices that won't break your IT budget.