Picture archiving and communication in radiology: an American perspective

A comprehensive image management and communication (IMAC) network has been installed at Georgetown University Hospital (GUH) for an extensive clinical evaluation. The network is based on the AT&T CommView system and includes interfaces to 12 imaging devices, 15 workstations (inside and outside the radiology department), a teleradiology link to an imaging center, an optical jukebox, and a number of advanced image display and processing systems. Two years of clinical experience with the network enable us to develop a plan for future activities from an American perspective. The IMAC project is not just a technical challenge, but also a professional, organizational, and administrative one. Several obstacles remain, but they are gradually being overcome as more cost-effective and streamlined technologies become available and as users and developers gain more operational experience in managing diagnostic images in an electronic environment.