Purchasing a PACS can be daunting, and a jumble of complex image management concepts can leave prospective buyers wondering where to begin. To help them make better decisions about buying and using PACS technology, the Society for Computer Applications in Radiology will launch SCAR University at this year's SCAR meeting in Philadelphia June 3-6.
SCAR University is an educational program designed to help radiology and information technology professionals learn PACS topics at a level based on their expertise, according to Dr. Bruce Reiner, co-chair of the SCAR 2000 Education Committee.
"SCAR is a melting pot, composed of a large heterogeneous group of people coming from different disciplines and different levels of experience," he said. "We wanted to offer something for everybody."
SCAR U will coast on 12 section tracks, with a 101 introductory course, a 202 intermediate course, a 303 advanced course, and a graduate-level course. Attendees can attend a series of four lectures on one topic section, attend all 12 lectures in a course level, or attend any combination of sessions, according to the Great Falls, VA-based society.
This year's topics include digital imaging (computed radiography/digital radiography); storage techniques; teleradiology; economics of PACS; networking; purchasing a PACS; medicolegal issues; security; education and training; workflow; connectivity; and quality control.
In the digital imaging component, speakers will explore the latest developments and future possibilities in CR as well as DR, an advanced but still underutilized technology, Reiner said. Storage-track students will get information ranging from an introduction to electronic archiving to strategies for data migration with changing technologies.
Technology advances continue to drive improvements in teleradiology, and speakers will cover teleradiology applications, technical aspects of image compression, and high-bandwidth connections for image transmission.
The high cost of PACS has hindered widespread adoption of the technology. In the "Economics of PACS" session, prospective buyers can learn about cost-justification strategies, financing options, and how to define benchmarks for creating an economic model.
As interest grows in implementing enterprise-wide digital image management systems, hospitals need to come up to speed on networking and systems integration. Attendees to the networking unit will learn about high-speed networks and enterprise networking and integration.
A primer on how to purchase a PACS is also planned, including how to choose a consultant, write a request for proposal (RFP), and conduct acceptance testing.
Sites implementing a PACS or teleradiology system need to be aware of the medicolegal implications of digital image management. Students can find out about licensing and credentialing issues in teleradiology, liability aspects of filmless imaging practice, and other key issues in the medicolegal issues seminar.
The security track will explore issues such as the digital reading environment, high-level security features such as biometrics -- the identification of users via physical characteristics such as fingerprints -- and technical aspects of PACS security.
The education and training component is often an overlooked part of a PACS purchase. Attendees to these talks will hear about practical experiences of a PACS training coordinator, and computer-based training for PACS.
Most PACS experts believe the benefits of digital image management can't be fully realized without reengineering the workflow. Speakers in the workflow session will talk about topics such as reengineering the radiology department, and redesigning the filmless reading room.
Connectivity between PACS and other healthcare information systems has generated much interest and discussion in recent years. The connectivity talk will present an overview of DICOM and HL-7, and catch up with Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise, a joint initiative between the RSNA and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society to facilitate integration of imaging and information management systems. A quality control discussion will cover QC issues in CR and PACS.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
February 28, 2000
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