title: Methodology for the design of a PACS in a small provincial hospital.
abstract: This paper describes the design and implantation issues for a Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS) in a 60-bed provincial hospital. Considerations such as the state of the imaging equipment, preventive maintenance, use and misuse of the equipment and the difficulties regarding migration to an all-digital imaging unit are discussed, as well as the criteria for the selection of the imaging modalities. Finally a design is proposed with four imaging modalities that use open-source database and display workstations. The system is currently under evaluation for possible reproduction in as many as 60 small clinics and hospitals throughout the country.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Mexico. jazp@xanum.uam.mx
authors.forename: Joaquín Azpiroz
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Leehan
authors.forename: Silvia Vides
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Cañas
authors.forename: Fabiola Martínez
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Licona
authors.forename: Miguel Cadena
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Méndez
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Lerallut
mesh_terms: D003628:Database Management Systems; D006761:Hospitals; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods*; D008800:Mexico; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D011873:Radiology Information Systems / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013219:State Government; D014584:User-Computer Interface