A strategy for the progressive introduction of picture archiving and communication systems for a radiology department.

An example of strategy for the progressive introduction of picture archiving communication systems (PACS) into a complete global image management system for a Department of Radiology has been developed and quantitatively examined. In general the strategy is based on the earliest reasonable implementation consistent with the evolution of the usage patterns and the state of the technology and its economics. The progressive implementation schedule and the associated numerical estimates of memory requirements in this paper are based on a series of qualitative and quantitative assumptions. The development of the projected strategy and schedule suggests that a time period of 1 1/2 to 2 decades would be required for an aggressive institution to achieve an operational global PACS system.