Why Dicom came About?

Years ago when computers started allowing for easier communication and image generation Hospitals started trying to use and share the information across different platforms. One of the biggest problems with this is that equipment and software manufacturers tried to "Corner the Market", locking customers into only their products. The problem with this was the need to share information between other hospitals, Doctors, equipment and software became impossible. In fact the best way to describe it was a "Disaster waiting to Happen"!

Hospitals had already CT, MRI machines, US (ultrasound), Nuclear Medicine (NM), and other computer driven equipment they had invested in but could not share the data between each other or even their main PACS sytems. Soon systems came out that converted the data from digital and analog signals into a Dicom version but even this oroved to be cumbersome and expensive especially since not everyone followed any particular DICOM. Instead manufacturers designed their own type of DICOM which complicated the integration of information systems. Thus a standard DICOM was developed with guidelines for hardware and software to improve integration and compatibility problems.

DICOM as a Standard

Was born to put the Medical Digital Imaging Community in a position to grow and improve allowing for the proper sharring of information including Data Retrieval, Data Storage, Data Printing, Viewing and so on. Before this occurred it took many sytems with information stored in many different locations causing complete chaos and data loss. The time it took to retrieve all of a patients data was more then tedious and very costly and often added to the patients wait and proper treatment. Now Images and Patient Information can all be stored or retrieved from a PACS System allowing to keep all the data accessible from one location. It is only because of the DICOM STANDARD that we are able to save time and money and improve the patients care.Vendors who make equipment without the dicom standard are doing so at their own downfall as Hospitals and Doctora offices require the Dicom Standard for any and all medical equipment.

PACS is the center of the Information workflow as it has integrated all the components of data flow. With Pacs Images can be viewed from Workstations instead of having to print films out as Xray Films. Digital images can be sent to Doctors across the world for viewing and has saved the patient money from transporting and printing out XRAY FILMS as it was done in the past.