PACS databases and enrichment of the folder manager concept

Current challenges facing picture archiving and communication systems (PACS ) center around database design and functionality. Workflow issues and fold er manager concepts such as autorouting, prefetching, hanging protocols, an d hierarchical storage management are driven by a properly designed databas e that ultimately directly impacts the clinical utility of a PACS. The key issues in PACS database design that enable radiologist-friendly, cost-effec tive, and data-secure systems will be discussed, including database difficu lties of the DICOM standard, HIS/RIS/PACS (hospital information system/radi ology information system) connectivity, and database issues in data acquisi tion, data dissemination, acid data display. Copyright (C) 2000 by W.B. Sau nders Company.