Question

Discuss how PACS has become mainstream technology for most moderate to large healthcare systems. Explain the different types of PACS: Web-based PACS, full PACS, i PACS, SuperPACS, etc.Compare and contrast web-based PACS with non-web based PACS. List the advantages and disadvantages

Answer 1

#. PACS is a picture archival and communication system networked group of computers, servers, and archives that can be used to manage digital images.

PACS started to become popular during the transition from film images to digital files. Since then, PACS have become more advanced and now allow clinicians to remotely access images, interface with EHRs, and enhance images to help with treatment decisions.

#. Advantages of PACS :-

Images can be manipulated withouut reexposing the patient

Retrieved rapidly

Sent to remote locations

Less storage space

Disadvantages of PACS :-

Cost

Compatibility with older networks

System failures

#. Three types of PACS

- client/server based

- distributed systems

- web based systems

1) Client based system :-

What architecture are the images sent to the archive server & Accesses images based on a centralized work list.

Person at the client chooses a name from the list.

Archive server sends the image data to the client.

The image data is only on the client while viewing.

Most systems allow basic image manipulation at the client.

Changes are saved on the archive server.

3 advantages of client server based architectures :-

available anywhere

only one person can open the study

old studies are available

3 disadvantages of client server based architectures :-

if it goes down, the whole system is down

network can be bogged

can be bottlenecked

2) Distributed system :- This architectures are also known as distributed or stand alone models & the acquisition modalities send the images to a designated reading station and possibly to review stations

3 advantages of distributed systems :-

if server goes down, local reading is not interrupted

there are multiple copies at other locations

less dependent on network for speed

4 disadvantages of distributed systems :-

they are heavily relied on

only 1 person at a time can work on the list

radiologist has to go to another workstation to read another study

2 radiologists can be reading at same time

3) Web based system :-

It is similar to a client server systems and the biggest differences are that the images and application software are held centrally and loads to the client display

2 advantages of web based systems :-

any web browser

can be used telaradiology

2 disadvantages :-

functionality may be limited

network is biggest obstacle