PACS Arrives at RAMC
Digital Pictures System Paves the Way for Improved Service and Care

Reedsburg Area Medical Center's Radiology Department is in the final stages of implementing a new digital archive of radiological images known as Pictures Archiving and Communication System (PACS). PACS allows the linking of computer technology and diagnostic images and the development of virtually filmless radiology, making hard copy imaging on film a thing of the past.

PACS enables the viewing, transmitting and storage of diagnostic images (such as CT scans, ultrasounds, x-rays, MRI's and images obtained from nuclear medicine studies) via computer, using computer technology to acquire the x-ray images, a computer network for transmitting them and a computer database for storing them (and previous studies). PACS gives radiologists, physicians and other health professionals access to patient images and information from any location on the hospital's secure network, whether they're inside the hospital, in neighboring hospitals or offices, or, from remote locations that may be thousands of miles away. All of this can occur within minutes of the patient's examination, making valuable diagnostic information available and usable almost immediately. This is a revolutionary advantage in patient care.

Since radiologists are not on-site at RAMC at all times, this new system provides capabilities of off-site viewing and reporting. For RAMC patients this means faster viewing by radiologists and quicker patient diagnosis.

Other benefits of PACS:

• Because there are no physical films - just computer files - a properly implemented PACS nearly eliminates lost/unread images
• PACS also enables the coordination of images with patient demographics and other electronic data such as lab reports and diagnostic studies

Fully implementing the PACS system is currently underway. Implementation will culminate in October, when physicians and healthcare providers will experience this remarkable change in providing patient care.

Watch for more exciting information.