With Web power and reach, the flow of information can be managed effectively from radiology to specialists, to referring physicians, and even to patients. When web-based PACS that can distribute digital images across the country are used nationwide and remotely, radiologists’ (literally) satisfaction is increased. Moreover, clinicians and doctors referring patients benefit from the program as well. Doctors can access patient images via the Web from any PC, whether they are in the hospital or not, instead of film-based access, which is slower and more cumbersome.
Medical care is redefined by Web-based PACS that redesign workflow. Consider Inland Imaging as an example. In north Idaho and Washington, a company provides medical imaging services to 14 hospitals and clinics. The hospital has 350 employees as well as 55 radiologists and five vascular surgeons.
iSite Enterprise PACS (formerly Stentor iSite PACS) from Phillips Medical Systems allows physicians or patients secure access to digitally acquired diagnostic images. This system integrates images acquired by radiologists and surgeons across 14 hospitals. With the PACS, hospitals can communicate virtually.
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Utilizing the web
A PACS system that can be accessed via the internet was also selected by Capital Health System. A Teaching Hospital located near Trenton, New Jersey, is using IntegradWeb PACS from Dynamic Imaging.
How did web-based PACS come to be chosen? Yaakov Applbaum, PhD, chair of Capital University’s radiology department, comments, “Films disappeared.”
A trauma surgeon moved a patient after hip filming to the trauma bay, which is one of my favorite trauma stories. Upon arriving at the CT, the patient’s hip films were destroyed. PACS was dependent on it to survive. We purchased a PACS system so referring physicians could easily access patient images and remain competitive in the area. We selected a web-based solution that could be accessed from within and outside the hospital to make that possible.”
Radiologists can perform all tasks remotely through the hospital’s PACS. The system should work both inside and outside of a hospital with no recognition of differences between the two. It was also important to us to make it easy to use. It had to be possible to download software without a CD. By entering a username and password, the physician can access the patient’s information on the website.
Amicas’ Vision Series web-based PACS system was the upgrade solution used by Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, MD, as well as moving its radiology services there. Radiologists or department researchers have traditionally used PCS as a tool, says Jim Stalder, CIO at Mercy. As it pertains to [medical imaging] exams, referring physicians should have better access to this info as well. In some cases, the specialist referring to the patient may also request to see the film. It is a burden for the patient as well as the doctor to carry and manage film.”
Better quality of care
Applbaum claims that PACS helps hospitals improve their workflows. Whether their patients are inpatients or outpatients, physicians outside the hospital can access information about their patients through the web-based system.
With PACS based on the web], it is impossible to compare the quality of care provided to patients,” Applbaum says. Children taken for [study purposes] can be accessed by pediatricians and orthopedists easily using this system. When doctors use chest radiographs to diagnose pneumonia or fractures, they can treat children more quickly and efficiently, which affects their health. Improving patient care quality can only be achieved one way.”
PACS vs. DICOM
Easily confused because they go hand in hand, they go hand in hand. DICOM is the underlying communication protocol that all files are converted to, while PACS connects the various hardware and software components needed for acquiring, storing, and reviewing medical images.
The DICOM language allows medical records to be exchanged, viewed, and stored regardless of whether they are in PACS, RIS, or an EHR system. That is why medical software is commonly DICOM-compatible, which means users of different devices can exchange data easily.
Using a cloud-based PACS has many advantages
Unlike regular PACS, cloud-based PACS uses cloud-based servers for storage and features.
In this case, your data is hosted and maintained by the Cloud PACS system vendor. DICOM cloud-based medical imaging data has high security and is easy to access.
Cloud-based PACS systems have widened the network, allowing more display types to be connected. HTML5-enabled devices can use online DICOM viewers.