Getting the Best DICOM Solutions Offsite
Going with the default factoring configuration isn’t the best solution when you consider all that you can do to improve the configuration of a modality, PACS, or view station. When it comes to workflow and DICOM, there are some best practices you should consider.
AE Titles Matter
Quick and easy image sharing is the often the goal today, especially considering all the mergers between hospital groups and the evolving needs of patients who seek out healthcare services from multiple specialists. For these reasons, it’s important to consider non-duplicate AE titles. Furthermore, the title should offer a clue as to what the image is and which workstation it was derived from.
Get Transfer Syntax Right
ELE, or Explicit VR Little Endian needs to be configured so the sender always sends ELE and as accepting party accepts the same way because if there are multiple options, the transfer syntax needs to proposed as part of the DICOM negotiation. Also, consider what you can do with Big Endian encoding and Explicit VR to assist in workflow.
SOP Class Configuration
Imaging specialists have options today in regards to modalities that let images encode as different SOP Classes. These are configurable, and because DICOM has evolved in the last 20 years, it is smart to keep up with the new versions of SOP Classes. However, it’s also imperative for the PACS and associated workstations to also be configured so that they support new SOP Classes.
Port Numbers
The widely used port number for DICOM connections is 104, but that doesn’t mean it will fit your situation. Due to system limitations, some vendors will require the use of ports like 6000 and 5004. Recently, IANA authority assigned port number 11112 to the DICOM Committee. You can standardize on this port for better management of ports in the router/network levels.
The purpose of best practices with DICOM topics is to become more efficient, realize a more optimal workflow, and ultimately, improve patient care. For providers with limited expertise on staff it is a good idea to partner with a third party that can handle all the issues that crop up where DICOM and imaging are concerned.
Going with an offsite vendor for image management is becoming a go-to solution due to the cost savings and the workflow solutions that can be realized. Rather than put out your IT department or to negate the need for hiring an individual or individuals who know how to configure your imaging systems, you can turn to a third party professional. All data is stored offsite at data centers located in geographically different areas to ensure the data is always safe and always available.
OffSite Image Management, Inc. is an imaging company that works through the cloud to give clients the solutions they need, including disaster recovery and business continuity management solutions. Contact us today and let’s talk about how to tackle all of your imaging needs.