SOME COST-BENEFIT CONSIDERATIONS FOR PACS - A RADIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

Some cost-benefit considerations for a picture archiving and communica tion system (PACS) are discussed in relation to a hospital-wide PACS. The acquisition of plain radiography by phosphor imaging plate technol ogy (currently state of the art computed radiography), the soft copy d isplay of the clinical history and radiological reports in association with the corresponding images, and the retrieval and simultaneous dis play of past with current images, are all considered to be integral to a true PACS. Cost-benefit considerations for a PACS extend far beyond the purely economic issues. More important and far reaching consequen ces relate to efficient data management provided by a PACS properly in terfaced to hospital and radiological information systems. The hardwar e required to install and operate a hospital-wide PACS is now ubiquito usly available and its performance has been amply demonstrated by a nu mber of filmless hospitals. Software design and implementation is now the outstanding consideration determining the clinical and, in particu lar, the radiogical benefit of a PACS.