Radiology Image Management in a Teaching Hospital Network Scenario: Initial Experience.

INHS Asvini has the distinction of emerging as the first Armed Forces Hospital with networked radiology images, sourced principally from a recently installed Digital Substraction Angiography (DSA) machine (Siemens Polystar Top 1000 MA). In recent times, newer imaging machines offer digital images that are in DICOM format. DICOM denotes ‘Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine”. Image management at INHS Asvini, involves transfer of DSA images in DICOM format, their conversion into Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPG) format and subsequent transmission of JPG images through a robust networking system that connects all departments/OPD/Wards, facilitating direct access of images to a variety of specialists and specialities. Clearly, this encouraging outcome is a small but useful step heralding the concept of ‘anytime anywhere’ images, and has the scalable expansibility of including CT and MRI images in future.