1. PICTURE ARCHIVING AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM (PACS)

2. INTRODUCTION A picture archiving and communication system (PACS) is a computerized means of replacing the roles of conventional radiological film as images are acquired, stored, transmitted, and displayed digitally. PACS aids in viewing, storing and retrieving, communication and managing of medical digital images and related information. The related information could be patient demographic information, contain diagnostic reports, or clinical history. The managing aspect facilitates the workflow of an imaging department such as organizing studies, presenting them in a consistent manner in the form of work lists, and keeping track of study status. 3. BENEFITS The replacement of conventional x-ray film is not the only role of PACS. The main benefits that PACS offers are as following: PACS can solve the issue of images loss, stolen, or misfiled. Two physicians will be able to view same image at different sites. Allows full range of tools for better visualization of image. Economically efficient as it prevent expenditure on films, film packets, fill processing chemicals, staff salary, and film filing clerks. The biggest advantage is huge increase in efficiency of data management. 4. DISADVANTAGES Before installing any PACS its disadvantages should be outlined first. Some of the disadvantages include: It is not a new technology but still has not been deployed at various health care institutes. The financial cost may be huge, preventing hospitals to install it. PACS systems utilize large amounts of bandwidth on a system, can "crash" even a very strong network or HCIS. Strong internet technology needed to handle PACS traffic efficiently. To read PACS report high resolution monitors are needed and they are too expensive. Choosing the wrong vendor would be more costly than anything. 5. SYNGO.VIA The syngo.via 3D routine and advanced reading solution is efficient, by saving valuable time, helps physician to concentrate on their core task. It is flexible, as modular licensing models are available; along with this users can customize applications and layout. These images are accessible through mobile devices so physician can view them on their mobile phones and can also share them with colleagues. It also makes workflow flexible. 6. Features and Benefits Accelerated radiological workflows. Save valuable time. Access and reading of cases are faster and easier with automated updates and pre-fetching of prior examinations. Guide the workflow with automatically pre-processing images, compile up findings and support quantitative reading functions. 7. The Login Screen 8. Search Result 9. Image Viewing 10. Additional Tools 11. Image Slicing/Looping 12. GE CENTRICITY PACS Centricity PACS presents a ascertained, scalable imaging IT platform designed to optimize radiologist productivity, enhance physician satisfaction, and interoperate with existing departmental (RIS) and enterprise (EMR) systems. With the innovations like single DB Rad/Card, RIS/PACS, advanced visualization, web-based clients, EMR integration, DR/BC and high availability, and most recently, mobile access on an Apple or Android enabled device, Centricity PACS is able to overcome the challenges and meet the challenges of healthcare institutions. 13. Features and Benefits Helps increased productivity of radiologists and physicians. Enhanced clinical depth with specialized tools. Greater radiologist collaboration with web-based and mobile-based clients for Apple and Android devices. Better patient experience in ICU, ED and clinics with mobile access to images and reports on Apple or Android devices. Adherence to industry standards such as DICOM, HL-7, IHE and XDS. Support for IT optimization objectives with VMWare. 14. Access to advanced imaging, communication, collaboration tools and exceptional interoperability with department and enterprise systems. Protection for databases and stored records from damage with disaster recovery options including offsite storage (ASP) and database replication. 24/7 support from expert GE Healthcare teams before, during, and after you implement your Centricity PACS solution. 15. GE PACS Login Screen 16. Patient List 17. X-ray Image 18. CT Scan Image 19. Raster iPACS Raster iPACS is completely amenable to DICOM standards. The software works on a high performance multi-core scalable servers. As it runs on Linux it assures stability while functioning. RAID hard drive stored all data ensuring maximum data integrity. Raster iPACS is OSS that is easily downloadable from Raster website. Raster provides support to user whenever needed. 20. Patient list 21. CT Image 22. Measuring Tool 23. Search Option 24. Open Source Clinical Image and Object Management (DCM4CHEE) DCM4CHEE is a DICOM archive par excellence. It is supporting PACS and Image repositories for 10 years, and itself a pioneer in the world of DICOM archives. Considering both financial and philosophical aspect it is free. Developed on JBOSS (Java on any supported platform Linux, Unix, Windows, Mac). Compliance to DICOM, HL7 and IHE. 25. Login Screen 26. Patient List 27. Search Option 28. Add New Patient 29. Merge Patient 30. Study Findings Siemens Syngo : This is mainly used for CT and MRI studies. Initially only syngo was used at JNPATC. As Syngo used different system (silver light supported), and AIIMS uses thinkline system, it was difficult to access syngo. Radiology department also faced some difficulty while working on it. This PACS also help radiology doctors to add finding on it, which is not available to any other PACS. 31. GE Centricity : It is currently being used for CT, MRI, X-Ray and US studies. GE centricity is widely used PACS in AIIMS. It is easier to use as progression to next step is simpler to understand. Not much practice is needed to be master in GE centricity. There is no storage issue with it as it can be increased according to demands. 32. Raster iPACS : It is open source PACS. The motive to install this is just it is a free OSS, do not need much investments. Raster iPACS is difficult in terms of use. Whenever support is needed, organization provides assistance. 33. DCM4CHEE : Patient information can be merged to prevent duplication of same patient information. It also provides an option to add patient directly in PACS. Patient images can be exported to other destinations. Patient attributes can also be edited. It enables viewing images in HTML, PDF and waveform format. DCM4CHEE allows offline storage too.