| d more, health care facilities are discovering the | | | | and dictating cases; the entire procedure could be |
| benefits of PACS systems when it comes to | | | | completed in three hours. |
| diagnosing health disorders faster and more | | | | Since that time, there have been incredible drops |
| accurately than ever before. The reason is digital | | | | in the cost of computer hardware, particularly |
| imagery, which allows us to see more clearly into | | | | processors, RAM and most importantly, storage |
| the human body without the need to resort to | | | | media. A RIS PACS system can archive vast |
| invasive procedures than ever before. However, | | | | quantities of digital files on a server, eliminating the |
| this is only one of the benefits of modern PACS | | | | need for large storage rooms with endless rows |
| systems. | | | | of file folders. In addition, using their PACS |
| A Short History | | | | workstations, clinic personnel can create complete |
| Digital imagery is nothing new; it has been used in | | | | patient archives that include not only image data |
| film and television since the mid-1980s. However, | | | | from MRI or CAT scans, but also sound files of |
| at the time, this technology was slow, | | | | dictation, word documents and other data |
| cumbersome and extremely expensive. It did | | | | — all stored in one place and easily |
| however lay the foundation of digital Picture | | | | retrieved when needed. |
| Archive and Communications, or PAC systems | | | | A New Era in Consultation |
| that would revolutionize diagnostic medicine during | | | | Even television's Dr. House gets stumped from |
| the following decade. | | | | time to time and needs to consult with faraway |
| The first such system to find its way into the | | | | colleagues. A RIS PACS system allows you to |
| health care industry was a Radiology Information | | | | make medical images available over a LAN or the |
| System or RIS PACS at the Ohio State | | | | World Wide Web, so if you run across a |
| University Medical Center Radiology Department in | | | | particularly challenging case, it's easy to consult |
| 1991. At that time, only well-funded hospitals could | | | | with a colleague anywhere on the globe in |
| afford PACS systems; the OSU system cost | | | | real-time. The RIS PACS can be configured with |
| hundreds of thousands of dollars. However, the | | | | numerous security protocols and with 128-bit |
| center's RIS PACS more than paid for itself over | | | | encryption, so only authorized personnel will be |
| the course of the next ten years. By 2001, the | | | | able to access sensitive patient records. Finally, |
| Radiology Department was able to replace their | | | | todays RIS PACS can be configured to make |
| old photo development lab and its costly materials, | | | | automatic backups that can be stored on portable |
| toxic chemicals and labor intensive procedures | | | | media such as DVDs or on an offsite server |
| with new PC-based PACS workstations. In | | | | — insuring that your clinic is in compliance |
| addition, their physicians were able to dramatically | | | | with HIPAA regulations in case of a disaster. |
| decrease the amount of time spent in diagnosing | | | | |