How PACS Affects You

Technology of the Future

Though picture archiving and communication system (PACS) is used to capture radiology images, the technology affects numerous aspects of your care...

...From the Emergency Department (ED)

In the ED, emergency medicine physicians primarily use X-ray and computed tomography (CT) scans to diagnose conditions ranging from broken bones to pneumonia.

"During emergency situations, every second counts to protect the health and well-being of patients," says Herb Gray, MD, chief of the emergency department and board-certified emergency medicine physician on staff at Falmouth Hospital. "If I need to discuss something about a patient's X-ray or CT scan with the radiologist, I can now do that faster than ever."

...To the Radiology Department

In addition to being useful for standard X-rays and CT scans, PACS is also used in the radiology departments at Cape Cod Healthcare facilities to enhance physicians' abilities to capture and view magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), fluoroscopy, ultrasound, positron emission tomography (PET), and nuclear medicine scans.

"With the volume of growth we've experienced in recent years, it's important to reduce turnaround times for imaging exams," says Michael Fishbein, MD, board-certified radiologist on staff at Falmouth Hospital. "Imaging technologies like CT and MRI have made great strides in speed and imaging quality, and now PACS allows us to make the most of these advances."

...And Even to Your Physician's Office

Giving radiologists and physicians instant access to your radiology images while in Cape Cod Hospital or Falmouth Hospital and Cape Cod Healthcare's urgent care facilities in Bourne, Sandwich, and Harwich as well, is exciting. PACS goes a step further and makes it possible for referring physicians, radiologists, and specialists to view the images from any computer that has the proper software and Internet access.

Whereas in the past a patient's X-ray, CT scan, or MRI had to be carried from the hospital to the referring physician's office or vice versa, PACS makes it possible for designated physicians to view the images without the hassle of handling hard copies of the images.

"PACS is an upgrade of the capabilities we had several years ago," says Patricia Hammel, MD, chief of the emergency department and board-certified emergency medicine physician on staff at Cape Cod Hospital. "In the past, we had to store all of our images in a warehouse. This new technology has made our storage warehouse obsolete, and that is a huge step forward."

Cape Cod Healthcare is so dedicated to providing your physician with access to clinical information now including images stored on PACS. We're helping primary care physicians in the area by adding this innovative technology to their own offices.

PACS is changing how we view and relay radiology exams. By helping referring physicians bring PACS to their own offices, Cape Cod Healthcare is showing its dedication to providing the entire community with access to better care.