Overview:

A PACS, or Picture Archiving and Communication System for short, is a medical imaging technology whose function is to store and transmit information captured by medical images that can be accessed by healthcare professionals in a medical facility. In other words, with a PACS system, healthcare institutions take steps toward digital transformation by eliminating the need for physical files and printouts, leading to more efficient and sustainable facilities, while reducing overall costs.

Have you heard of a PACS system in radiology? Do you know the definition of a Picture Archiving and Communication System? Although both terms are constantly used in the medical industry, many are not sure what it is or their full potential.

What is a PACS system?

A PACS, or Picture Archiving and Communication System, is a medical imaging technology that provides access to various sources of information. Its function is to store and transmit the information captured by medical images that can be accessed by healthcare professionals in a medical facility. In other words, with a PACS system, healthcare institutions take steps toward digital transformation by eliminating the need for physical files and printouts.

However, the potential of a PACS system is not only limited to the storage and communication of medical images, it can also provide several gains in information security, clinical performance, and diagnostics.

Before explaining the full potential of a PACS system, it is important:

How does a PACS system work?

Once medical images are captured by medical equipment (such as CT, radiology or PET), those images are digitally transmitted through the PACS system. This allows physicians, administrative staff or anyone else who needs those images to access and share them both internally and externally. In other words, using a PACS in radiology offers a digital storage solution that provides remote access to images and reports. Its operation could be likened to a cloud-based solution such as iCloud or Google Drive. How does it make this possible?

It is all made possible by DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine), the universal format for storing and transferring PACS medical image data. DICOM allows radiology information systems (RIS) and other medical imaging systems to connect and transfer data to systems in other healthcare facilities. In this way, DICOM enables more efficient image retrieval and distribution for viewing and reporting.

The use of PACS enables quick and easy retrieval of images and other related data, overcoming the physical and time barriers associated with traditional film print-based image retrieval, distribution, and viewing.

Potential of PACS for Physicians

Using a PACS can dramatically improve physician workflow. This is primarily because physicians can access a patient’s entire history and radiological data easily and quickly. Digital storage also allows physicians to easily access previous exams and compare them with the most recent ones. This eliminates the need for patients to bring in previous exams. Thus, there is a holistic view of the case and this has an impact on the use of medical records. As they begin to be stored digitally, it allows all specialties to access and comment on them, which encourages better communication between teams and ultimately benefits the patient.

Potential of PACS for institutions

• • With PACS your institution can better monitor the quality and lifespan of medical images. Thus, gaps in the process can be easily identified.
  • PACS replace paper-based medical images (e.g., film archives). As digital storage prices fall, it provides a growing cost and space advantage.
  • At the same time, infrequently accessed archives can be retained. This does not lead to increased costs, as no physical space is required, and it increases patient safety and the service provided, as it is easier to search for specific files.
  • Equipment optimization is also a key factor. PACS enables remote access, as it expands the possibilities. With PACS, equipment becomes more efficient, allowing better distribution of information and improved performance.
  • Overall, all these points lead to a more efficient and sustainable hospital, while reducing overall costs.

At IMEXHS, we provide you with 100% cloud-based PACS that allows you to improve patient retention, maximize productivity and reduce costs for radiology services. With our platform medical centers can make their processes easier and more efficient, all in a single solution. With our PACS we offer you:

– Patient and referring physician access to image reporting from any device.

– Immediate savings in the patient care process through our automation tools.

– Reduced infrastructure costs through 100% cloud-based storage

– Complete end-to-end workflow

– Departmental solution with business intelligence for real-time monitoring of service performance

– Integrated video conferencing for multidisciplinary collaborations

Request a completely free, customized demo of our 100% cloud PACS.

Bibliography:

Peekmed (2022). What is a PACS System and how can you yenefit from it?. Extracted from: https://blog.peekmed.com/pacs-systems#whatispacs

Intelerad (2021). What is PACS?. Extracted from: https://www.intelerad.com/en/2022/01/24/what-is-pacs/