Many radiologists would prefer to spend more energy actually reviewing images than struggling with a PACS user interface. Because radiologists usually want to get the same information out of the system regardless of which PACS they are using, the researchers sought to develop an interface that abstracts away the differences in the user interface needed to obtain this information, said presenter Dr. Naveen Garg.
The group created a set of hot keys that make use of the Windows application programming interface (API) to control a number of PACS functions, including scrolling, windowing, measuring, annotating, saving presentation states, and controlling audio editing. The software has been successfully tested with both a number of major commercial Windows-based PACS and free offerings, according to the researchers.
"There is some basic functionality in a PACS that should be user configurable/customizable," Garg said. "The software we created makes some of the most commonly used functionality easier and more efficient to use."
