Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Challenges associated with interfacing computed tomography to a picture archiving and communication system at the Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center—A historical perspective

  • SESSION 2B: Evaluation of System Components
  • Published:
Journal of Digital Imaging Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The interfacing of digital image acquisition modalities to the picture archiving and communication system (PACS) plays a major part in the conversion from a traditional film-based radiology practice to one that relies almost entirely on soft-copy reading. The Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) is one of the first filmless hospitals in the world. Since 1993, it has used computed tomography (CT) scanners connected to a commercial PACS to provide digitized patient images for filmless reading. Over the years, the evolution of Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) standards, advances in networking technologies, and enhancements in PACS and hospital information system (HIS) software have greatly improved this system’s robustness and patient/study identification accuracy. The result has been a major increase in productivity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Digital Imaging Communication in Medicine (DICOM), NEMA Standards Publication PS 3 (1998). Washington, DC, National Electrical Manufactures Association.

  2. Dayhoff RE: VA’s integrated imaging system: A multispeciality, hospital-wide image storage, retrieval and communication system, in Siegel EL, Kolodner RM (eds): Filmless Radiology. New York, NY, Springer, 1999

    Google Scholar 

  3. Kuzmak PM, Dayhoff RE: The Department of Veterans Affairs integration of imaging into the healthcare enterprise using the VistA hospital information system and Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine. J Digit Imaging 11:53–64, 1998

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Kuzmak PM, Dayhoff RE: Enabling technology: DICOM in the VA’s hospital information system, in Siegel EL, Kolodner RM (eds): Filmless Radiology. New York, NY, Springer, 1999, pp 322–352

    Google Scholar 

  5. Kuzmak PM, Dayhoff RE: Success of HIS DICOM interfaces in the integration of the healthcare enterprise at the Department of Veterans Affiars, in Medical Imaging 1999: PACS Design and Evaluation. Proceedings SPIE, vol 3662, The International Society for Optical Engineering, Bellingham, WA, 1999

  6. Oosterwijk H, Csipo D, Kuzmak PM, et al: Modality Interface DICOM Conformance Requirements, Version 1.2.http://www.va.gov/oa&mm/busopp/formats.htm, Sept 7, 1999

  7. HIMSS & RSNA. Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise, IHE Technical Framework, Revision 3.0.http://www.RSNA.org/IHE, April 26, 1999

  8. Reiner BI, Siegel EL, Hooper FJ, et al. A comparison of film based to filmless operation on CT technologists’ productivity. Radiology 207:481–485, 1998

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Reiner B, Siegel E, Kuzmak P, et al: Transmission failure rate for computed tomography examinations in a filmless imaging department. J Digit Imaging 13:79–82, 2000 (suppl 1)

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. VistA Imaging Project, Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Information, 8403 Colesville Rd, Suite 200, 20190, Silver Spring, MD

    Peter M. Kuzmak MD, Bruce I. Reiner, Eliot L. Siegel, Stephen M. Severance & Ruth E. Dayhoff MD

  2. American Radiology Services, Baltimore

    Peter M. Kuzmak MD, Bruce I. Reiner, Eliot L. Siegel, Stephen M. Severance & Ruth E. Dayhoff MD

  3. University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore

    Peter M. Kuzmak MD, Bruce I. Reiner, Eliot L. Siegel, Stephen M. Severance & Ruth E. Dayhoff MD

  4. Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore, MD

    Peter M. Kuzmak MD, Bruce I. Reiner, Eliot L. Siegel, Stephen M. Severance & Ruth E. Dayhoff MD

Authors
  1. Peter M. Kuzmak MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bruce I. Reiner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Eliot L. Siegel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Stephen M. Severance
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ruth E. Dayhoff MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Supported by the US Department of Veterans Affairs

This is a US government work. There are no restrictions on its use.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kuzmak, P.M., Reiner, B.I., Siegel, E.L. et al. Challenges associated with interfacing computed tomography to a picture archiving and communication system at the Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center—A historical perspective. J Digit Imaging 13 (Suppl 1), 83–87 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03167632

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03167632

Keywords

Search

Navigation