PACS in practice: on-line communications in daily routine.

After a preparatory phase in which a software link was realized, on-line communications between a diagnostic reporting console and a computed tomography (CT) apparatus were set-up. Two specific groups of CT investigations were selected to be diagnosed in a 'digital' as well as a 'conventional' manner. The 'digital' diagnosis implies medical as well as organizational aspects. The latter will be illustrated by an organization study based on activity diagrams performed to set-up a prototype digital archive (PDA). The PDA was developed to determine the information to be stored in a digital archive and the requirements that users have in accessing image data and corresponding attributes. First experiences with respect to the organizational aspects of this clinical picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) project, in which on-line communications are used in daily routine, will be presented.

PACS in practice: the status of the PACS project at the St. Radboud University Hospital. Part B. A digital image archive: information analysis and development.

In accordance with the bottom-up approach in the field of the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS), a pilot study was performed with regard to the archiving of digital diagnostic images. A prototype has been developed to determine what information has to be stored in the digital archive and what requirements the users have in accessing these data. Firstly an organization analysis of the department of diagnostic radiology with respect to the archiving of images was performed. A variant of the ISAC method was used for this purpose. This resulted in a set of activity diagrams. Thereafter an information analysis was performed according to the Nijssen Informal Analysis Method (NIAM). This resulted in a Conceptual Schema (CS). Two other prototypes of relational Image Database Management Systems (IDBMS) are described and a description of a general modular structure of an IDBMS is given. By means of a Prototype of a Digital Archive (PDA) the department of diagnostic radiology was shown what might be expected from a digital archive and how the information will be presented to the users.