Want to know what’s the difference between DICOM and PACS? Follow below.
DICOM
DICOM stands for digital imaging and communications in medicine. As the names shows, it is a standard for storing, sharing and transmitting medical image data. You can also consider it like a file format as JPG. The healthcare professionals create and share medical images in this format. Most of the devices like X-ray and others also support DICOM format.
In a hospital, the medical image data is shared between different departments. The emergency department may send the images and attribute data to other departments. So all the devices, X-ray, MRI, ultrasound and others are DICOM supported. It makes data sharing and transferring very easy and convenient.
Benefits of DICOM
DICOM has a good number of benefits and some of these are explained below.
1. Standard Format
DICOM is the standard format just like JPG to share the medical imaging data. Patients get their reports and they are designed in a way that any doctor can access them anywhere if they have access to this system.
2. Easy Data Sharing
Sharing medical imaging data becomes really easy with DICOM. Doctors can share with each other. The data can be transferred from one hospital to another with the help of DICOM.
3. Convenient to Use
It is the best and the easiest option which is used to share image data. All this happens within seconds and you will not need any extra tools to access and open the DICOM files.
4. Fast and Instant
DICOM prepares and shares data within seconds instead of minutes. This instant response is what makes it popular.
PACS
PACS stands for picture archiving and communication system. This name implies it is some sort of storage system where medical data is stored and kept. PACS is widely used in hospitals because of its great use and convenience. You can also understand it as a system where all the patient data, record and details are stored. It can be images, documents and other records.
PACS is different than DICOM in many ways. Even the two have nothing in common. PACS is a storage system for medical data while DICOM is a medical image standard to share and transmit medical imaging data. PACS can contain DICOM files whereas DICOM doesn’t necessarily need PACS for the data to be kept. This can be stored anywhere.
Benefits of PACS
Following are some of the benefits of using PACS, that will let you know more about difference between DICOM and PACS.
1. Manages Data
With PACS, data storing and management becomes really easy. You have all the data in a single place. Whenever you have to find some information, you can search in the system with keywords or according to given options.
2. Saves Time and Cost
With PACS, you can save your time as well as cost of data management. When everything is stored in a single system, it is easy to update, remove and upgrade details. You don’t need to keep the data in form of documents or papers.
3. Reduces Paperwork
That is another definite benefit of using PACS. You will get rid of the paperwork and documents. It reduces the burden and makes things convenient and easy.
Now that you know the PACS DICOM viewer and the difference between DICOM and PACS, it would be easier to choose the best from them.Following are some of the benefits of using PACS, that will let you know more about difference between DICOM and PACS.
