A Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) is an electronic system used in healthcare for acquiring, storing, and sharing medical images, consisting of imaging modalities and a secured network. While PACS enhances efficiency and accessibility of images, it also poses challenges such as high installation costs and technology limitations. Despite the disadvantages, PACS significantly improves operational productivity in healthcare organizations and transforms image management.

1. PICTURE ARCHIVING
AND
COMMUNICATION
SYSTEM
A picture archiving and communication system is an
electronic and ideal information system for acquiring,
sorting, transporting, storing and displaying medical
images. PACS have developed rapidly and are in
operation in number of hospitals.
A PACS consists of four major components:
1.The imaging modalities such as X-ray plain film
(PF).
2.Computed tomography (CT)
3.Magnetic resonance imaging

2. 4.A secured network for the transmission of patient
information.
A PACS allows health care organizations (such as
hospital) to capture, store, and view and share all types
of images internally and externally.
Advantages of PACS:
1.The main advantage a PACS offers is the
improvement in efficiency resulting from
electronic data handling.
2.Once an image has been acquired onto PACS, it
cannot be lost, stolen or misfiled. Thus, images are
always available after a PACS has been installed.
All images are available day and night for viewing
anywhere in the hospital.
3.The PACS terminals allow simultaneous
multilocation viewing of the same image.
4.It also ensures that all images are automatically
grouped into the correct examination, are
chronologically ordered.
5.The real advantage of a hospital with PACS is the
huge increase in efficiency of data management it
provides.
Along with advantages there are certain disadvantages
associated with PACS. These are:
1.The installation of PACS in a hospital is expensive.
2.The technology, although not entirely new, has not
been widely deployed in healthcare systems.
3.Internet technologies are still not advanced enough
to handle PACS traffic efficiently.

3. 4.These systems utilizes large amount of frequency
on a system, with an average use of 3MB per
image.
5.Special high monitors resolutions are needed for
reading the procedures which could be costly.
Although there are certain disadvantages of PACS, but
it is up to the hospital or healthcare systems to
determine if the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.
Benefits of PACS:
6.Improving the operational efficiency and
productivity of the medical image services.
7.Allowing the availability of images anytime and
anywhere.
8.Reducing waiting time for image retrieval and
turnaround times of clinical reports.
9.Attaching scans to patients health records.
10. Facilitating long term distance relationships.
11. Improving hospital workflow.
Overall the invention of PACSs has resulted in a
dramatic simplification of image management of health
care organizations. It represents a major change in a
healthcare organization and has proved to be a
substantial challenge to many health care organizations.
The effects of PACS on various aspects of radiology
and overall patient care are an area of ongoing study.
By – Medha
For more info : PACS Health Care

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