The National Institutes of Health clinical center digital imaging network,picture archival and communication system, and radiology information system

In this work, we describe the digital imaging network (DIN), picture archiv al and communication system (PACS), and radiology information system (RIS) currently being implemented at the Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health (NIH). These systems are presently in clinical operation. The DIN is a redundant meshed network designed to address gigabit density and expecte d high bandwidth requirements for image transfer and server aggregation. Th e PACS projected workload is 5.0 TB of new imaging data per year. Its archi tecture consists of a central, high-throughput Digital Imaging and Communic ations in Medicine (DICOM) data repository and distributed redundant array of inexpensive disks (RAID) servers employing fiber-channel technology for immediate delivery of imaging data. On demand distribution of images and re ports to clinicians and researchers is accomplished via a clustered web ser ver. The RIS follows a client-server model and provides tools to order exam s, schedule resources, retrieve and review results, and generate management reports. The RIS-hospital information system (HIS) interfaces include admi ssions, discharges, and transfers (ATDs)/demographics, orders. appointment notifications, doctors update, and results. Copyright (C) 2001 by W.B. Saun ders Company.