A digital prescription for X-ray overload

The potential of picture-archiving and communication systems (PACs), a technology for the transmission and storage of diagnostic images, is examined. PACs, which accept pictures or images, with associated test, in digital form and then distributes them over a network, offer a means of dealing with the explosive growth of information generated by radiology and other imaging modalities. The technological problems that must be solved before PACS can achieve widespread use are explored. These occur in the areas of storing, transmitting, and displaying the images. Standard issues and radiologists´ resistance to the digital hospital, which may be the greatest obstacle to implementing PACS, are discussed.<>