| The DICOM Viewer is one solution to the | | | | similar to the common “.jpeg” and |
| escalating cost of health care. Consider the | | | | “.gif” images used on websites; the |
| amount of money that medical institutions and | | | | difference is that DICOM was developed to meet |
| clinics spend processing and archiving images such | | | | the demands of the medical profession. This |
| as x-rays, CAT scans and MRIs – not to | | | | specific format is why a special PACS DICOM |
| mention the costs associated with transferring | | | | viewer is necessary. Fortunately, the cost is much |
| such images when pathologists and other medical | | | | less than you would expect. |
| personnel require consultation with colleagues in | | | | What Is an “Efilm DICOM Viewer” ? |
| distant locations – and the savings will become | | | | Because it is software, there are several different |
| apparent. The reason is that the DICOM Viewer | | | | DICOM viewers available. Some can be |
| is a format that is web-based and cross-platform. | | | | downloaded free on the Internet; however, these |
| No More Development Costs | | | | may not include the most advanced features that |
| One major expense (not to mention a hazard) | | | | are necessary for today's cutting-edge |
| that hospitals and other health care facilities face | | | | diagnostics, and usually do not offer technical |
| is the development process for many medical | | | | support. |
| images. Like traditional photographs, x-rays require | | | | The Efilm DICOM Viewer from Merge Healthcare, |
| expensive and toxic chemicals, not to mention | | | | Inc. is one of the most advanced and widely-used |
| darkroom facilities and storage space. With the | | | | PACS DICOM viewers in the health care industry. |
| web-based DICOM viewer, x-rays and other | | | | Priced within the reach of the most modest clinics, |
| types of medical images can be stored on a web | | | | the Efilm DICOM Viewer includes many options |
| server, hard drive or portable media such as | | | | and tools not available woth other PACS DIMCOM |
| DVDs. Another advantage of the web-based | | | | viewers; you can learn more about this application |
| DICOM viewer is that it allows these images to be | | | | by clicking on the “DICOM Viewers” link |
| shared online over an intranet or the Internet and | | | | under the “View” menu on the left hand |
| viewed on any computer monitor – anywhere | | | | side of your screen. |
| in the world. | | | | The Time Is Now |
| What It Is | | | | PACS DICOM viewers are not new; the roots of |
| A PACS DICOM viewer is a software application | | | | this remarkable technology go back to the early |
| that runs on Windows, Mas OS and Linux. The | | | | 1980s. However, until recently, hardware costs |
| first two words are acronyms that refer to the | | | | and incompatibility made it difficult for small clinics |
| two elements of the system; “PACS” | | | | and private practices. With the drop in the cost of |
| stands for Picture Archive and Communication | | | | computer hardware and increase in computing |
| System, and “DICOM” is short for Digital | | | | power, this technology is now readily available to |
| Image and COMmunication in Medicine. The latter | | | | the entire profession. |
| is really nothing more than an image file format | | | | |