They may seem like part of the woodwork, but CD and DVD technologyremains a vital tool for any healthcare facility managing and needingto communicate large amounts of medical images and patient information.

Imaging centers bring different needs (and budgets) to the table than larger hospitals and healthcare facilities. This month, Health Imaging & IT visits with a few sites to explore how to find just the right PACS.

As healthcare facilities experience explosive growth in terms of thenumber of studies and the size of those exams, the accompanyingmountains of patient data require a place to reside. The informationmust be housed securely and accurately and often be available atmoment's notice. Vendors are stepping up to the challenge.

The implementation of RIS/PACS at Rochester General Hospital has boosted internal productivity andincreased the satisfaction levels of both patients and physicians.

Color displays traditionally have not offered the resolution or brightness for use in reading many diagnostic images. But that’s changed, with some facilities even taking the leap to all-color.

Experience demonstrates that there aredramatic differences in workflow, efficiency, and ease of use amongdisplay systems and vendors. The same credo holds true for thedeployment process.

Business continuity is not an easy process; however, many healthcarefacilities have successfully tackled it. These experienced sites offera wealth of advice for their colleagues with tips for success.

Speech recognition is providing radiologists and other specialists with improved efficiency for much quicker report turnaround times.