Where Do You Get DICOM from?

Abstract

The DICOM standard itself is free and can be found on the official DICOM home page (http://medical.nema.org), which is maintained by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). However, from a practical perspective, you usually deal with DICOM implementations in devices and software. Currently, hundreds of these products are on the market, constantly competing, transforming, and vying for your attention. This natural selection, however, only adds another layer of commonly misunderstood and confusing concepts to the original complexity of the DICOM standard. Moreover, the question “Are you completely DICOM-compatible?” can never be answered with a simple “Yes” or “No”. In fact, this question is just plain inaccurate. All DICOM devices and software implement only specific parts of the DICOM standard required for their functionality. As a result of this variety, implementing DICOM workflow has become one of the most critical and treacherous phases in organizing any medical imaging practice. How do you introduce DICOM into your practice and what should you avoid? Well, let’s start with the basics.