💡Picture Archiving systems have become mainstream because they improve efficiency and healthcare quality. Some immediate benefits include integrating with hospital systems, supporting different imaging modalities, and real-time image analysis tools. PAC systems and their various imaging modalities provide more precise imaging, leading to more precise surgeries and accurate diagnoses. Also, its interconnected communication systems provide the necessary processes and tools to email, share, integrate, and archive images and their analysis. The increased image quality leads to overall improved healthcare quality.
💡There are various types of PACS, but the two primary categories are complete PACS and mini-PACS. Full PACS provides broader functionality, advanced tools, and more imaging modalities. These systems often include the hardware and software necessary to create, store, and distribute medical imaging into other document or record management systems–for example, web servers, web browsers, email, media players, and document management. On the other hand, mini-PACS are much more flexible and portable and only provide a subset of the capabilities of complete PACS. However, both utilize advanced types of equipment with powerful medical capabilities. Complete PACS are better suited for larger healthcare providers, whereas mini-PACS are best suited for independent practitioners or smaller organizations.
💡PAC systems provide various imaging modalities that cover different medical use cases. Some examples are ultrasound, MR, and PET scans. Ultrasound is a harmless alternative to x-ray radiation and provides a real-time view of internal moving body parts. Magnetic Resource Imaging (MRI) is an imaging system that uses magnetic waves to create high-quality and high-fidelity images of the body’s insides. Brain scans often use MRIs for their ability to capture pictures of soft tissue at different depths. PET scans also produce prints of the activity and the brain’s function. These help better understand our brain’s neurological and cognitive processes because of their ability to display brain activity in real time.
💡Primary advantages of PACS include efficiency, real-time sharing, and improved quality. On the other hand, disadvantages include security risks, complexity, and storage costs. These systems can expose enormous quantities of medical information if not properly managed. Additionally, complexities abound due to the countless types of picture modalities and a competitive medical market with a suite of imaging systems. PAC systems store large volumes of images, which is costly to store and maintain. Despite a competitive market of cloud service providers, large volumes of images require careful planning and expensive archiving systems.
📝References
PeekMed. (2022). What is a PACS System, and how can you benefit from it? Peekmed.com. https://blog.peekmed.com/pacs-systems
DCE Paella Engage Video Player. (2022). Harvard.edu. https://matterhorn.dce.harvard.edu/engage/player/watch.html?id=b94deace-9f1b-4bc6-9fc6-41e1febdaada