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This paper describes the design and implantation issues for a Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS) in a 60-bed provincial hospital. Considerations such as the state of the imaging equipment, preventive maintenance, use and misuse of the equipment and the difficulties regarding migration to an all-digital imaging unit are discussed, as...
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Textual-based tools are regularly employed to retrieve medical images for reading and interpretation using current retrieval Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) but pose some drawbacks. All-purpose content-based image retrieval (CBIR) systems are limited when dealing with medical images and do not fit well into PACS workflow and clin...
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Picture archiving and communication system (PACS) has become a mature technology over the past few years and has been widely implemented in several developed countries, in health care delivery for daily clinical imaging service and data management. A PACS is an integrated workflow system for managing images and related data which is designed to streamline operations throughout the whole patient care delivery process. Use of PACS has changed the medical image interpretation from conventional hard copy images to soft-copy studies viewed on the systems workstations. Computer-aided detection and diagnosis (CAD) utilizes computer methods to obtain quantitative measurements from medical images and clinical information to assist clinicians. The CAD needs image input and related information from PACS to improve its accuracy and PACS benefits from CAD results online and available at the PACS workstation (WS) as a second reader to assist physicians in the decision making process. Although yet these two technologies remain as two separate independent systems with only minimal system integration. The use of the CAD-PACS software toolkit package has revolutionized PACS WS and thus clinical workflow from single event patient-based queries to longitudinal-based queries. The advantages of query/retrieving content-based imaging data can be a great benefit for medical imaging research and clinical practice. This paper describes a general method to integrate CAD results with PACS in clinical environment.
This work presents the methodology to design a small imaging unit in a small regional hospital that takes into account the real imaging needs in the region regardless of current administrative guidelines. The situation of the imaging facilities in Mexico's states is studied and compared with other countries, and a project plan is designed for the specific state (Guerrero) where the clinic is to be located. The proposal includes the acquisition of a basic suite of modalities that include an ultrasound system, a mammography unit, and a conventional X-ray system in addition to a CT system that is not available anywhere within the state. The system should be primarily digital and should incorporate a simple picture archiving and communications system that can be the basis of a future telemedicine unit. The conclusion of this study also proposes changes in the segmented and pyramidal structure of the Mexican health system in order to provide higher quality care at the lower level, to reduce bottlenecks, and to provide higher quality health care near the patient's home.
