| PACS (picture archiving and communication system) is a medical imaging technology used primarily in healthcare organizations to securely store and digitally transmit electronic images and clinically-relevant reports. The use of PACS eliminates the need to manually file and store, retrieve and send sensitive information, films and reports. Instead, medical documentation and images can be securely housed in off-site servers and safely accessed essentially from anywhere in the world using PACS software, workstations and mobile devices. Medical imaging storage technologies such as PACS are increasingly important as the volume of digital medical images grows throughout the healthcare industry and data analytics of those images becomes more prevalent. Although encryption is available for some PACS software, most PACS records not encrypted to avoid backwards compatibility issues with other hospital systems. Who uses PACS While radiologists have predominately used PACS -- radiology traditionally being the most prolific producer of X-ray images -- PACS technologies have been incorporated into other departments, such as nuclear medicine imaging, cardiology, pathology, oncology and dermatology. Medical images are taken and reviewed for clinical analysis, diagnosis and treatment as part of a patient's care plan. The information collected can be used to identify any anatomical and physiological abnormalities, chart the progress of treatment and provide clinicians with a database of normal patient scans for later reference. Having digital access to the most updated version of a patient's medical images, clinical reports and history can expedite and improve care, lessening the likelihood of treatment and prescription errors and preventing redundant testing. Digital access can also improve patient safety and save both the healthcare facility and the patient time and money. Development Nearly all the major medical imaging equipment manufacturers and medical IT companies offer PACS. This system is used to store, retrieve, present and share images produced by various medical hardware modalities, such as from an X-ray, computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound machines. The modern use of PACS can be attributed to DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine), which is a standard protocol for the management and transmission of medical images and related data. DICOM was originally developed by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) and the American College of Radiology (ACR). In 1983, ACR and NEMA formed a joint committee in hopes of developing medical imaging technology standards and to facilitate the development and expansion of PACS. Continue reading... | 
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