PACS, or the picture archiving and communication system is a standard for image storage and movement across a network. Other similar standards are emerging as the need for storing and moving large amount of image data is on the increase in the health care system. X-ray technicians, radiologists, and other health care workers in the imaging fields are seeing a need to store and move their images over networks in one building and across many miles of interconnected networks.
One of the advantages of moving image data over a network is for doctors in one facility to be able diagnose patients who could be many miles away. The images can be transported in real time across networks, so that the time from imaging to diagnoses can be the same as if the doctor was right there with the patient.
As imaging technology improves, the amount of data that each image requires increases. The more data per image, the more information that can be determined about the patient?s condition. As the amount of data per image increases, data storage and network bandwidth become limiting factors in keeping up with the technology. Information technology departments in hospitals are also under pressure to keep pace with the new requirements on data size.
As facilities are improved or built, optical network cable is being installed with its increased bandwidth capability over copper wire. Data server computers with many layers of redundant hard drive storage are also becoming part of the necessary equipment in health care facilities.
Another consideration with imaging storage is the linkage between the image and the patient?s identity and privacy concerns. The HL7 systems that track a patient?s records and interfaces with a number of other systems in a health care facility can also link image files and the patient?s identity. That way, there is one common set of files that can be passed around that include personal information, as well as the actual medical records of the patient.
The picture archiving and communication system is the portion of the software that deals with managing the image data on one end, and on the interface with the computer network system on the other. It is the link between the data, itself, and all the individuals who want to access that data.
In the future, it is hoped that the size of the data image files will not outgrow the capacity to store them, nor the bandwidth to transmit them. These technologies must advance fast enough so that the information that is gathered is made useful to those who desire to see it.
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