
Each year in Nova Scotia, there are more than 1.3 million patient diagnostic imaging (DI) exams (i.e. ultra sounds, x-rays, etc.). The Picture Archiving Communication System (PACS) uses digital electronics rather than film to capture, store, transmit and distribute these medical images.
In June 2006, Nova Scotia was the second province in Canada to achieve 100 per cent PACS implementation.
PACS enables radiologists and other physicians to remotely, and instantaneously, access images anywhere, anytime. Digital images, such as angiography, CT scans, X-rays, MRIs, nuclear medicine, and ultrasounds are centrally stored through PACS -- which facilitates sharing of patient information in a secure environment. By removing the barriers of geography and time, physicians and other health care professionals can offer better, faster patient diagnosis.
PACS transforms a patient’s experience in a several ways:
At a time when health care resources are at a premium, PACS provides benefits by:
Nova Scotia’s PACS is a key part of the electronic health record (EHR) and the goal of one electronic health record for each person. That will lead to better health care.
More than 1.3 million diagnostic exams are conducted in Nova Scotia each year.