Technologies for image distribution in hospitals (original) (raw)
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Digital image management and communication in medicine
Computerized Medical Imaging and Graphics, 1994
With the rapid development of digital imaging modalities in medicine, there is an increasing need for an efficient management and archival of medical images in digital form. Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) are becoming an essential component of medical imaging equipment, allowing for medical images to be accessed and stored directly in digital form. This paper describes a hospital-wide PACS currently under development at the University Hospital of Geneva, based on an open architecture, regrouping equipment from different vendors in a distributed topology. The image archival is organized in multiple locations geographically distributed in the hospital. The PACS database is fully integrated with the concurrent Radiology Information System (RIS) and Hospital Information System (HIS). A standard image storage format called the PAPYRUS format was developed for the storage of medical images from a variety of imaging modalities. To provide a more uniform user interface on a variety of different workstations, a common platform for image display and manipulation called OSIRIS was developed.
Web-based distribution of radiological images from PACS to EPR
International Congress Series, 2003
Medical images are currently created digitally and stored in the radiology department's picture archiving and communication system (PACS). Reports are usually stored in the electronic patient record (EPR) of other information systems, such as the radiology information system (RIS) or the hospital information system (HIS). But high-quality service can only be provided if the EPR data is integrated with the PACS digital images. The clinician should be able to access both systems' data in an integrated and consistent way as part of the regular working environment, the HIS or the RIS. Additionally, this system should allow for teleconferences with other users, e.g., for consultations with a specialist in the radiology department. This paper describes a web-based solution that integrates the digital images of the PACS, the EPR/HIS/RIS data and a built-in teleconferencing functionality. The integration has been successfully tested with three different commercial RIS and HIS products.
Computers in imaging and health care: Now and in the future
Journal of Digital Imaging, 2000
Early picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) were characterized by the use of very expensive hardware devices, cumbersome display stations, duplication of database content, lack of interfaces to other clinical information systems, and immaturity in their understanding of the folder manager concepts and workflow reengineering. They were implemented historically at large academic medical centers by biomedical engineers and imaging informaticists. PACS were nonstandard, home-grown projects with mixed clinical acceptance. However, they clearly showed the great potential for PACS and filmless medical imaging. Filmless radiology is a reality today. The advent of efficient softcopy display of images provides a means for dealing with the ever-increasing number of studies and number of images per study. Computer power has increased, and archival storage cost has decreased to the extent that the economics of PACS is justifiable with respect to film. Network bandwidths have increased to aliow large studies of many megabytes to arrive at display stations within seconds of examination completion. PACS vendors have recognized the need for efficient workflow and have built systems with intelligence in the management of patient data. Close integration with the hospital information system (HiS)-radiology information system (RIS) is critical for system functionality. Successful implementation of PACS requires integration or interoperation with hospital and radiology information systems. Besides the economic advantages, secure rapid access to all clinical information on patients, including imaging studies, anytime and anywhere, enhances the quality of patient care, although it is difficult to quantify. Medical image management systems are maturing, providing access outside of the radiology department to images and clinical information throughout the hospital or the enterprise via the Internet. Small and medium-sized community hospitals, private practices, and outpatient centers in rural areas will begin realizing the benefits of PACS already realized by the large tertiary care academic medical centers and research institutions. Hand-held devices and the Worldwide Web are going to change the way people communicate and do business. The impact on health care will be huge, including radiology. Computer-aided diagnosis, decision support tools, virtual imaging, and guidance systems will transform our practice as value-added applications utilizing the technologies pushed by PACS development efforts.
Completion of a hospital-wide comprehensive image management and communication system
Society of Photo- …, 1989
A comprehensive image management and communication (IMAC) network has been installed at Georgetown University Hospital for an extensive clinical evaluation. The network is based on the AT &T CommView system and it includes interfaces to 12 imaging devices, 15 workstations (inside and outside of the radiology department), a teleradiology link to an imaging center, an optical jukebox and a number of advanced image display and processing systems such as Sun workstations, PIXAR, and PIXEL. Details of network configuration and its role in the evaluation project are discussed. 1.0 INTROpUCTIOlY The management of the vast amounts of medical images and information generated by today's clinical services is a growing problem. The solution to the problem will increasingly require the use of advanced computer-based technologies U1I in data storage, image display and communication, and human engineering. The progress of individual technologies has been rapid; however, system integration and user acceptance have been slow in coming. Though the new imaging technologies have given the radiologist a powerful set of new diagnostic tools, the quality of radiology service has not experienced similar revolutionary improvements over the decade. In fact the use of many imaging modalities has imposed additional difficulties in managing films and data. New imaging systems have created a number of difficulties in managing radiology images and information because (a) they are often produced in physically distant locations, (b) images are presented in varying film formats, (c) radiology service is highly subspecialized and there is a greater need to review multimodality images, and (d) within large and complex medical care facilities there is an increasing number of competing demands for radiological images. It is generally accepted that the management of radiology images can be improved by using some computer based image system. However, opinions vary. What type of approach would be desirable? The possible solutions [2] will depend on such factors as the nature of radiology service, the types of images, and clinical workload. The use of computer based image management is becoming a major challenge and it is expected to generate a great deal of interest in the near future. How could this electronic technology enhance the quality and efficiency of radiology service? How should such technical capabilities be utilized to address the critical issues in a cost efficient way? Would the users, radiologists, and referring physicians embrace the use of this new technology? What kind of impact would IMAC technology have in the way that radiology service is performed. How should this technology be deployed to meet the combat casualty care needs of the Army? The project [3] at Georgetown University is designed to address these questions with close collaboration with a number of universities, government agencies, and military experts. While many specific technical issues involving display resolutions, image processing methods, and data compression techniques are an important part of the project, additional emphasis is placed on the system-wide issues of IMACS as an integral part of patient care.
Update on digital image management and PACS
Abdominal Imaging, 2000
Information technology is becoming a vital component of all health care enterprises, from managed care services to large hospital networks, that provides the basis of electronic patient records and hospital-wide information. The rationale behind such systems is deceptively simple: physicians want to sit down at a single workstation and call up all information, both clinical data and medical images, concerning a given patient. Picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) are responsible for solving the problem of acquiring, transmitting, and displaying radiologic images. The major benefit of PACS resides in its ability to communicate images and reports to referring physicians in a timely and reliable fashion. With the changes in economics and the shift toward managed and capitated care, the teleradiology component of PACS is rapidly gaining momentum. In allowing remote coverage of multiple sites by the same radiologists and remote consultations and expert opinion, teleradiology is in many instances the only option to maintain economically viable radiologic settings. The technical evolution toward more integrated systems and the shift toward Web-based technology is rapidly merging the two concepts of PACS and teleradiology in global image management and communication systems.
Academic Radiology, 2004
Medical images are currently created digitally and stored in the radiology department's picture archiving and communication system. Reports are usually stored in the electronic patient record of other information systems, such as the radiology information system (RIS) and the hospital information system (HIS). But high-quality services can only be provided if electronic patient record data is integrated with digital images in picture archiving and communication systems. Clinicians should be able to access both systems' data in an integrated and consistent way as part of their regular working environment, whether HIS or RIS. Also, this system should allow for teleconferencing with other users, eg, for consultation with a specialist in the radiology department. This article describes a web-based solution that integrates the digital images of picture archiving and communication systems with electronic patient record/HIS/RIS data and has built-in teleconferencing functionality. This integration has been successfully tested using three different commercial RIS and HIS products.