Dear PACS Insider,
Laptops can have the computing power to handle image viewing tasks, but their utility suffers due to their small displays. A radiology group from Kentucky, however, has found that two portable USB-powered monitors can be utilized to convert a laptop into a three-headed mobile workstation.
When used for viewing cross-sectional images, the monitors were judged to be as good as a standard 3-megapixel display. Were there any limitations? Find out in this month's Insider Exclusive, which you can access before our regular members by clicking here.
Speaking of displays, researchers also found that monitors employing light-emitting diode (LED) backlights were more comfortable for radiologists to use for reading than monitors using cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) technology. Click here for the details.
While cloud-based image sharing continues to be explored, the reality today is that CDs are still the standard means for institutions to receive outside imaging studies. A group from Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center recently deployed automated software for importing images from CDs into PACS and realized many benefits. Operating at an error rate of less than 1%, the system was also easy to use by hospital personnel, the researchers found. Find out more here.
In other articles in your PACS Digital Community, Herman Oosterwijk, president of OTech, has contributed a column that explores the recent buzz surrounding the new Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise certification initiative. Herman shares his thoughts on the value of certification and the potential impact on the Connectathon.
In mobile device news, Apple's iPad was recently found to yield mixed results for interpretation of chest radiographs.
Do you have an idea for a topic you'd like to see covered? As always, please feel free to drop me a line.
