Central Referral Hospital (CRH) first in Sikkim to Introduce Picture Archiving & Communication System (PACS)
GANGTOK, 3 April 2024: Central Referral Hospital (CRH), Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences (SMIMS) under Sikkim Manipal University (SMU), achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first hospital in Sikkim to introduce the Picture Archiving & Communication System (PACS). The inauguration ceremony took place on April 3, 2024, with esteemed dignitaries in attendance, including Air Vice Marshal (Dr.) D C Agarwal, Vice Chancellor of SMU; Dr. Karma Sonam Sherpa, Registrar of SMU; Mr. Subhendu Prakash, Chief Operating Officer of CRH; Col (Dr.) Navneet Singh Chhabra, Additional Medical Superintendent; and Dr. B S Verma, Head of the Department of Radiology, along with other members of CRH.
During the ceremony, the Vice Chancellor of SMU commended the efforts of the CRH team for their successful implementation of this innovative initiative. The introduction of PACS is expected to significantly enhance patient care at CRH, providing advanced imaging and communication capabilities that will benefit both patients and healthcare professionals in the region. This technological advancement underscores CRH's commitment to staying at the forefront of healthcare innovation and delivering high-quality medical services to the community.
What is PACS?
A Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) is a medical imaging technology which provides economical storage and convenient access to images from multiple modalities electronic images and reports that are transmitted digitally via PACS.
This eliminates the need to manually file, retrieve, or transport film jackets, the folders used to store and protect X-ray film. The universal format for PACS image storage and transfer is DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine)
How PACS can add value to the patient & the hospital?
PACS helps in reducing the patient waiting time for Radiology reports which thereby increases in patient satisfaction.
PACS helps in providing accurate & precise reporting which allows in faster and more accurate diagnosis and treatment planning. It also improves communication and collaboration among healthcare professionals involved in a patient’s care.
PACS eliminates the need for manual film processing and storage, which can significantly reduce the time and effort required to manage and retrieve medical images. Instead, images can be viewed, accessed, and shared quickly and easily from any location with secure network access.
PACS eliminates the need for costly film and film processing equipment and physical storage space for film-based images, resulting in significant cost savings for healthcare facilities.
PACS includes robust security features to protect patient data and ensure that authorized healthcare professionals only access images. These procedures will help to prevent data breaches and protect patient privacy.
PACS allows healthcare professionals to view and manage medical images more efficiently, reducing the time and effort required for image retrieval, viewing, and interpretation. These functions can improve productivity and workflow for radiology departments and other healthcare professionals involved in patient care