Without the latest PACS workstations, your health care facility may still be operating in the 20th Century. PACS systems actually began making their appearance in major hospitals in the early 1990s, of course - and at that time, only major hospitals could afford them. However, this is no longer the case; the same economic and technological trends that have exerted downward pressures on the cost of personal computing equipment has done the same for PACS workstations, meaning that such equipment is now more affordable than ever.

Familiar, User-Friendly Technology

PACS workstations are part of integrated PACS systems. The acronym "PACS" stands for Picture Archive and Communication System; its primary function is to create and store medical images made from a range of modalities that include MRI, EEG, CAT scans and even old-fashioned X-Rays. These images can be called up and viewed at radiology or mammography workstations, which operate in very much the same way as your personal computer at home. In fact, PACS workstations are essentially PCs that are tied into PACS systems; the only difference is the software used. This software is easy to use however, and allows users to save medical images into archives along with other patient records. These can be configured in any number of ways by the system administrator. Furthermore, PACS systems allow such records to be shared with authorized parties over a LAN or the World Wide Web, while 128-bit encryptions protects records from prying eyes.

Every Health Care Professional Can Benefit

Whether it is a radiology, cardiology or mammography workstation, PACS systems are highly adaptable for a wide range of purposes. Regardless of the specialty of area of medicine, virtually every clinic and hospital can benefit from having a PACS system in place. There are even such systems designed for veterinarians and dental professionals!

More Affordable Than Your Think

It's true that historically, these systems and the PACS workstations that go with them have been costly. Today however, it is possible for virtually any health care facility to have a complete system installed for as little as $5000 - and since PACS workstations are essentially specialized PCs, it is possible to incorporate some of the equipment already available.


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