Deploying PACS beyond the physical and virtual walls of the radiology department or imaging center, regardless of size, provides the opportunity to extend beyond the reach of diagnostic imaging to a broader range of caregivers and enabling improved efficiencies, cost savings and better patient care.

The growing interest in nuclear medicine, especially the surge inhybrid imaging, calls for good workflow and plenty of storage. PET/CTand SPECT/CT are changing the way cancer is detected and tracked sovendors of information systems, PACS and software vendors are offeringsolutions designed to meet the new image management landscape.

The differences between interfaced and integrated RIS/PACS are nolonger cut and dry as industry definitions are redefined and manyvendors offer single, integrated solutions with clear benefits.

Data availability is crucial for the provision of quality medical care. Healthcare data flows and interacts with multiple sources within and across institutions. Therefore, the backbone of the diagnostic matrix—patient histories, imaging studies and lab results—must be available at all times whenever and wherever they’re needed.

Radiology operates in a constantly and rapidly changing environment. Consequently, digital image management is an ongoing project. The common denominators at hospitals across the country include investment in new data-intense imaging modalities, PACS infusion throughout the enterprise, bursting archives and overburdened radiologists and technologists. 

More than 1,700 healthcare organizations have installed the EMC Centeracontent-addressed storage infrastructure from EMC Corporation with goodreason.

Cardiac-related advances in imaging modalities such as CT, MR, PET/CT,SPECT and echocardiography have created a demand for cardiology PACScapabilities that offer individualized solutions to fit evolving imagemanagement and patient information management needs.

For many sites, PACS is an enterprise, rather than radiology department, investment. This enterprise approach packs a powerful punch. It delivers cost-savings, efficiencies and improved care.