Dear PACS Insider,
Despite advances in PACS software and incorporation of advanced visualization technology, workstation peripheral devices have largely failed to evolve beyond the traditional mouse and keyboard controls. Novel input devices such as multitouch displays and the Nintendo Wii game controller, however, may be better suited for today's complex image viewing requirements, according to research from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore.
In a presentation at the Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM) annual meeting, Dr. Rishi Seth shared promising research on the use of multitouch displays, which allow users to control software applications with physical inputs or gestures. The Nintendo Wiimote was also found to have potential.
Our coverage of the Maryland study is this month's Insider Exclusive, which you have access to before it is published for the rest of our AuntMinnie.com members. To learn more about the potential of these devices in radiology, click here.
Also, consultant Michael J. Cannavo returns with another edition of his Building a Better PACS series, available exclusively on AuntMinnie.com. In "Part 3 - Look before you leap," Cannavo shares his thoughts on performing due diligence before buying a PACS, including how to get the most out of site visits. For that article, click here.
In other articles we're featuring this month, PACS was found to drive a 70% increase in radiologist productivity over the past 15 years, and the technology has also shown success as a revenue generator. Research from Massachusetts General Hospital also has found that a thin-client PACS can allow for improved visualization of thin-slice MDCT data.
In case you missed our coverage from the SIIM meeting, we also have articles on the challenge of PACS administration at imaging centers, use of a treadmill-based workstation, and the training responsibilities of PACS administrators. Stay tuned for continuing coverage from the meeting.
Do you have a topic you'd like to see covered in your PACS Digital Community, or are you interested in submitting an article to AuntMinnie.com? Please feel free to drop me a line.
