Implementation of a PACS & RIS in a Private Radiology Center: A Three Year Experience

Since the year 2003 till the present time, a picture archiving and communication system (PACS) was implemented with the radiology information system (RIS) to improve the quality, user-friendliness, accessibility, and management of radiology data (images, reports, databases, knowledge) of a large number of patients in a private radiology centre in Egypt five servers and 45 personal computers (PCs) form the integrated system (in two different branches of the centre). The first server is dedicated to management and archiving of digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) images (PACS server). The second server is dedicated to uploading cases on the internet (web server). The rest of the servers are dedicated to management of the RIS and archiving of patient data, reports (word documents), and images in the digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) and the joint photographic experts group (JPEG) formats. There are two main client-server networks of imaging modalities (magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, digital radiography), one in each of the two branches. The PACS server is located within the main branch, which is linked remotely with other branch via high speed dedicated frame relay connection diagnostic medical images within the centre are displayed in the DICOM format for reviewing and consultation. Images and reports can be distributed to referring physicians, in the form of Microsoft word documents and JPEG images, which can also be used for quick and easy archiving and distribution. Also secured patients' examinations can be viewed by the referring physician over the internet through the connection with the web server.