Picture Archiving and Communication System - Essay Example

1. Rapid developments in the fields of computers and communications technologies have enabled information technology to secure a commanding position in all walks of life ranging from financial transactions through entertainment to water supplies.

All these components enable the following processes: image acquisition, image communication, image storage, image display, and image processing. All these processes act as pathways for PACS to improve the quality of diagnosis, extend the reach of services of an expert radiologist, higher efficiency, and cost savings (Reiner and Siegel, 2002, 3).
2. Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM)

Since healthcare is a safety as well as security intense domain, these parameters cannot be compromised. Hence saving and archiving medical images without losing quality (or information) has been a compelling need of the users of various users dealing with medical images. This concern of the clinicians has been appropriately addressed by a universal standard pertaining to digital medical imaging, this standard is termed Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (popularly called DICOM). DICOM provides all the tools required for diagnostically correct processing and presentation of medical imaging data (Pianykh). DICOM takes care of data transfer, storage, and display protocol that contains sets of standards.

DICOM incorporates the following processes: Information Management System Storage, Query/Retrieve, Study Component, Query/Retrieve, Results Management, Print Management, Media Exchange. The DICOM Standard takes care of levels of the ISO OSI network model and enables the exchange of information on interchange media. DICOM currently defines an upper layer protocol (ULP) that is used over TCP/IP (independent of the physical network), messages, services, information objects, and an association negotiation mechanism. These definitions ensure that any two implementations of a compatible set of services and information objects can effectively communicate. DICOM is independent of the networking technology and because of this independence DICOM can be deployed in many functional areas within the same site (using different forms of Ethernet), amongst sites over virtual private networks (VPNs) or leased lines, within a wider area using ATM, across dial-up or other remote access connections with the help of a modem, or ISDN, and via satellite with controlled latency.

Almost all the information management systems in medicine (like RIS, PACS, etc), involving medical images depend heavily on DICOM (Boochever, 2004). PACS and DICOM are closely related, in other words, the functionality of PACS is internally driven by DICOM because it is DICOM that enables interoperability amongst various PACS.

3. Applications of PACS and DICOM
There are over fifty well-known companies that develop PACS, some of the popular companies in PACS are Agfa, GE, Philips Healthcare, Siemens, Fujifilm Medical Systems. PACS market at the global level as of now has been estimated to be around the US $2bn and it has been forecasted that it would touch the US $4.8bn by 2015 (newsguide.us, 2009). In this report, we will cover two products, one each from Agfa and Fujifilm.

AGFA – IMPAX 6
Agfa’s IMPAX 6 is a web-based futuristic image and data management system, it facilitates streamlined enterprise workflow and enhances efficiency and productivity at a healthcare delivery setup. IMPAX 6 employs deliver a single workflow-based system to serve its users within and outside of a facility, it also provides a central view and management of patient image and information data when integrated with Agfa’s other line of image management systems like IMPAX RIS and Reporting solutions. IMPAX 6 enables easy digitization of workflow, streamlines study review, and improves reporting and results in distribution.

Key features of IMPAX 6 include (agfa.com, 2009):
• Workflow optimized for the different users in an enterprise
• Web-deployability for access to data from any location - local or remote
• Maximum patient privacy and data security
• Easy, centralized management of users, system, and software
• Connectivity for one integrated view of patient data
• Seamless integration at the desktop pulling together different information systems