Cable modem access to picture archiving and communication system images using a web browser over the Internet

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Telemedicine
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) are crucial for medical image management.
• Remote access to PACS images is essential for timely radiological consultations, especially after hours.
• Evaluating internet-based image transmission for remote diagnostic capabilities is important.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and performance of accessing Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) images remotely using web-based software and cable modem internet connections.
• To determine the transmission speeds and time-to-display (TTD) for medical images in a remote setting.
• To evaluate the security measures for remote PACS access.

Main Methods:

• Utilized web-based viewing software and a standard browser for remote PACS image access.
• Employed cable modem internet communication for remote site testing.
• Measured the average time-to-display (TTD) for computed tomography (CT) images.
• Implemented security protocols including firewalls, virtual private network (VPN) software, secure ID, and encryption.

Main Results:

• Web-based PACS image access over a cable modem achieved acceptable transmission speeds for remote viewing.
• Average time-to-display (TTD) for 16 computed tomography (CT) images was 7-8 seconds internally and 16 seconds remotely via the internet.
• Time-to-display (TTD) remained consistent throughout the day, unaffected by peak hours.
• Established secure access through a firewall using VPN, secure ID, and encryption.

Conclusions:

• Web-based remote access to Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) images using cable modems is a viable solution.
• The established security measures ensure protected access to sensitive medical imaging data.
• This technology facilitates effective after-hours subspecialty radiology consultations, improving patient care accessibility.