Development Of PACS At Georgetown University Radiology Department

Computer based information is becoming more common in the practice of modern radiology. Patient information, radiological reports and many radiological images are already in electronic digital format. There is also an increased application of computer technologies throughout the hospital. Use of hospital information system (HIS) and radiological information system (RIS)is receiving wider acceptance in the medical community, in an attempt to provide timely and efficient patient care. As more computer technologies and computer based management tools are utilized in the operation of the Radiology Department, full realization of integrated digital picture archiving and communication system (PACS) encompassing all the subsystems such as digital imaging devices, report generating system, archiving system, picture viewing system, information distribution system and administrative management component is becoming within the reach of currently available technologies (1,2). Only when all the patient data, radiological reports, images and administrative data can be simultaneously managed, will the full benefit of computer technology be realized in the practice of radiology.