PACSIntegrator (PACSi)

The CPS PACSIntegrator Solution is a suite of software, services and processes that enables the sharing and standardization of heterogeneous digital medical imagery across an enterprise. CPS utilizes adapters built upon a robust kernel that encapsulates communications to provide a vendor, technology and protocol neutral solution. This flexible architecture enables integration with existing electronic medical systems and the embedding of digital imagery into patient records. By utilizing the capabilities of the PACSIntegrator, medical imagery integration can expand to the enterprise level and beyond.

Benefits of the PACSIntegrator Solution

  • Reduction in the time and cost of sharing and transferring medical image data
  • Reduction in the time and the cost for selecting images and exporting them to clinical studies
  • Improved efficiency and security of patient-controlled image sharing
  • Realized benefits of medical image sharing network to patients, physicians, and researchers
  • Improved medical decision making and reduction in unnecessary expenses
  • Improved quality and safety of patient care.


PACSIntegrator Key Components

Kernel
 The PACSIntegrator Kernel contains the core logic linking storage, search, transport, interface exposure, client service and service consumption routines into a complete working solution. The Kernel provides a flexible backbone for system specific implementations and communication customizations. Most medical facilities have developed a unique infrastructure and set of business practices over a long period. Because the integration of these systems into an enterprise environment may require a high level of customization, flexible interface customization is a core component of the PACSIntegrator design.

Adapters
Adapters define interfaces between the PACSIntegrator and external systems. The Adapter methodology is an integral part of the Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) foundation of the PACSIntegrator and is the model used for PACS to PACS communication. These adapters expose internal PACSIntegrator services to the external systems, and enable the internal services to consume the capabilities of those systems. The flexibility of the PACSIntegrator design enables the development of the most efficient compatible solution regardless of the external system infrastructure. The PACSIntegrator can interoperate with external systems using any communications method or protocol.

DICOM Communications
At the heart of the PACSIntegrator is its ability to communicate with the existing digital imaging infrastructure at a facility, regardless of the format in which digital images are stored. In keeping with our vendor neutral approach, we receive and convert (if necessary) digital images into the universally accepted medical image format standard DICOM. Using our DICOM Query/Retrieve and Receive capabilities we communicate with one or more PACS at a facility (i.e. Radiology, Cardiology, Dentistry, etc.) to index the PACS images and metadata, receive DICOM image files on a real-time basis, and provide immediate reach back access to older archived image files.

Image Processing
The PACSIntegrator Image Processing component provides transformation, manipulation and compression tools for medical images. The PACSIntegrator stores images in an optimal format for quality and size, but not all medical systems can consume this format. In addition, each DICOM header contains specific parameters that need to be applied to the image data in order to maximize image quality, and the DICOM parameters vary between image modalities and between facilities. As such, the PACSIntegrator can transform an image into any image format specified by an external system or viewer by using image manipulation tools to transform raw DICOM image data into viewable formats. The PACSIntegrator Image Processing suite also contains both Compression and Decompression tools. Lossless Compression preserves diagnostic image quality while minimizing storage requirements while Lossy Compression minimizes web or network load while ensuring the desired referential quality level.

Patient Correlation
A key benefit of the PACSIntegrator is the ability to match patient identification used by the PACS with the identification used by the other Electronic Medical systems in the facility and across the enterprise. Through sophisticated trait adjudication, the PACSIntegrator correlates the disparate IDs (i.e. SSN, FMP/SSN, IEN, ICN, etc.) that are used within the facility to identify the same person. The PACSIntegrator can also link into a broader adjudication service, correlating the local patient across the enterprise.

Image Repository
The PACSIntegrator Repository stores image data files utilizing either a Caching or Permanent Storage technique. Coupled with an Index of available images called a Registry (commonly housed in a database) the Repository is fully capable of integrating both local and federated remote storage locations. In a distributed environment, a single PACSIntegrator will serve up images from local storage, local PACS, and remote PACSIntegrators in the same method. Linked together, multiple PACSIntegrators may provide image access between federated sites that are unable to communicate directly. Image aging and expiration routines enable ongoing operation as the amount of imagery the PACSIntegrator serves up surpasses the available local storage. With real-time image processing and real-time archive data retrieval, any images available to a single PACSIntegrator can be accessed through a virtual single access point with optimal storage utilization.