PACS: TAKING RADIOLOGY INTO TH E 21s t CENTURY

Abstract

There are certain inventions that are rightly termed "Game Changers". Personal computers, mobile phones, digital cameras can all be placed in this category. In the field of diagnostic radiology there have also been many such innovations. The multi slice CT scanner, the humble ultrasound and ofcourse the Magnetic Resonance Imaging immediately come to mind. There is another such game changer which has been around for over a decade but only just making its appearance on the Pakistani scene. This is Picture Archiving and Communication Systems or simply PACS. PACS has revolutionised how radiological images are stored, reported and distributed. Not only has radiology work flow and patient care been changed forever it has also had a huge impact on education and evaluation of trainees not only in radiological sciences but in all clinical disciplines.1 The global impact is evident however as PACS is in its early period of evolution in Pakistan, its impact here has been limited. This article sets out to describe the basic components of a PACS system and describe how it may be able to achieve cost savings along with improving service, education and research in Radiology.