PACS (Picture Archiving Communication System) refers to the computer system or network,that allows the  digital capturing, storage and displaying of  medical images and related information. Since imaging departments and healthcare professionals have migrated from traditional film to digital, PACS became an inevitable part of today's diagnostic environment. PACS are capable of storing, archiving, processing and viewing of images and image-related information extracted from various diagnostic imaging equipments such as Digital Radiography (DR), ultrasound,Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI),Mammograms, Nuclear medicine, Fluroscopy etc.. These modalities acts as a source of the images.The major components of a PACS System are Acquisition devices, Storage and transmission system and Viewing workstations.

How is it possible?
PACS works with the help of certain standards such as DICOM standards, which establish a common communication standard for the handling and transmission of medical images and information. It enables the exchange of information between workstations, medical imagers, modalities, etc. PACS system works as diagnostic viewer systems which enables image processing functions, and also acts a storing and archiving system. PACS have in-built database system that allows extracting, storage/archiving functions and are usually armed with short and long-term storage medias and can also communicate with peripherals such as printers and scanners which is having DICOM compliance.

The PACS Advantage
* PACS replaces the hard-copy films and provides more storage space.
* Reduction in costs associated with acquiring and processing hard-copy films
* Timely and efficient access to images,related information and interpretations
* Eliminates the need for patients to physically hand-carry their films ( examination reports)
* No worry of loosing or misplacing films.
* Physicians can view current and historical images and reports from office, home or designated PACS clinical review stations.
* More effective patient care
* Images can be manipulated (cropping, rotating, zooming, brightness and contrast adjustments) to facilitate more accurate diagnosis
* Soft copy images eliminates the use of film processing chemicals which protects staff health and saves the environment.

Availability
Today, PACS is provided by virtually all the major medical imaging devices manufacturers, medical IT & Infrastructure firms and other software companies. And the Basic PACS software can be obtained at free of cost from world wide web. The following are the major vendors who offer PACS solutions to hospitals, clinics, imaging centers and other healthcare enterprises.

* Carestream Health
* NovaRAD Corporation
* RadInfo Systems
* RamSoft, Inc.
* Cerner Corporation
* INFINITT NorthAmerica
* MillenSYS
* eRAD, Inc.
* Emageon, Inc.
* McKesson Corporation

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