Challenges And Solutions For Medical Imaging Bandwidth Requirements

A Picture Archiving and Communications SystemPACS leverages a common infrastructure for all
(PACS) is integral to the smooth, timely, andthe digital imaging modalities and provides image
quality delivery of health care in every medicalstorage and archiving....with recall as needed....for an
setting today. Not only are they integral but theyentire medical facility or campus. By instituting a
are crucial to the clinical and business aspects ofweb enabled distribution system a facility PACS is
radiology practice as we know it. However, PACSable to provide ready image access to the
have long faced challenges in delivering this digitalimmediate radiology department as well as the full
imaging support to such diagnostic modalities asrange of clinicians and specialists, especially
X-ray, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT),surgeons and referring physicians. To ensure
magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], Positronfunctionality at the high level required means
Emission Tomography (PET), and Teleradiology.facing the heavy bandwidth appetite of the
The main issue has always been the availability ofmodalities supported.Even an Application Service
sufficient bandwidth (load and speed).....at aProvider (ASP) company that hosts applications,
reasonable cost.....to support the growing demandmanages them and rents access to images from
for quick easy web-based access by medicala centrally managed facility is not immune to the
providers. As Medical Imagery becomes more andbandwidth concern. ASP providers allow an
more digitalized....with bandwidth improvements,institution to outsource information technology
communication will be faster and easier, and it willapplications infrastructure, management, support
be possible to transmit heavier studies in less timeand maintenance.
and with high quality.An internal (facility owned)