Filmless Radiology

This book examines the use of state-of-the-art technology to achieve filmless radiology, describing its impact on healthcare systems and providing valuable insights into reengineering healthcare. Sharing expertise developed in implementing Picture Archival and Communications System (PACS) technology capable of supporting filmless radiology, it relates experiences at the Baltimore Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC), the first site to have a fully operational filmless radiology system. The book will provide an overview of filmless radiology with advice on acquiring PAC systems. Also included are sections on its impact on the practice of radiology and the delivery of health care (filmless radiology is central to teleradiology), clinical uses of computed radiography, technological issues, and case studies from both inside and outside the VA system.

This title relates experiences at the Baltimore Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC), the first site to have a fully operational filmless radiology system. Included are sections on PACS' impact on the practice of radiology and the delivery of health care (e.g. teleradiology), clinical uses of computed radiography, technological issues, and case studies from both inside and outside the VA system.

Section 1.- 1 Current State of the Art and Future Trends.- 2 Large-Scale PAC Sytems.- 3 Purchasing a PACS: An RFP Toolkit.- Section 2.- 4 The Impact of Medical-Legal Issues in Strategic Planning for PACS and Teleradiology Implementation.- 5 PACS and Productivity.- 6 Economic Analysis of Filmless Radiology.- 7 Computed Radiographic Imaging and Artifacts.- Section 3.- 8 Digital Radiography.- 9 Digital Mammography.- 10 Quality Assurance and PACS.- Section 4.- 11 PACS and the End User: A Study in Two Demanding Environments.- 12 PACS and Training.- 13 Clinical Aspects of Workstation Design and Operation.- Section 5.- 14 Workstation Functions and System Capabilities.- 15 Image Compression.- 16 DICOM Standardization.- 17 Enabling Technology: DICOM in the VA's Hospital Information System.- Section 6.- 18 PACS and Telemedicine in the VA.- 19 VA's Integrated Imaging System: A Multispecialty, Hospital-Wide Image Storage, Retrieval, and Communication System.- 20 Hospital-Wide PACS: The HammersmithSolution.- 21 PACS in Academic Medical Centers.