The practical use and evaluation of picture archiving and communication system in the department of orthopaedic surgery

A picture archiving and communication system (PACS) was started in June 1989 in the outpatient clinic of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan. The PACS system has several advantages: space savings for storage of images, safe custody and quick access to image data, simultaneous access to image data, the possibility of obtaining good quality data on utilization of images, and applications for medical education and resident training. However, this system has just begun, and several problems must still be solved. In this article, we describe our experiences with the PACS system in the outpatient clinic of the department of orthopaedic surgery.