Experience with an architecture for integrating images into a hospital information system

An integrated image system to provide high-quality image data from cardiology, pulmonary and gastrointestinal endoscopy, pathology, radiology, hematology, and nuclear medicine for hospital information systems has been developed. Images and associated text data are presented to clinicians throughout the hospital on high-resolution workstations which are interfaced to the main hospital system in a client-server architecture. The system´s architecture is described, and experience in the first six months of operation is discussed. Initial use has validated the approach and has indicated a number of unanticipated benefits for patient care and teaching