It is true that this filmless system has shown a great deal of advantages, but this same system has shown its limitations as well. The next three sections will detail some of the major limitations
3.2.1. The risk of a system failure:
The first and major risk that can result from using PACS is mainly its system failure. Digital data are fragile and can easily be lost or corrupted. It would hence be devastating for any medical facility to function if such central tool keeps shutting down (Strickland, 2000). The consequence would be disastrous for clinical care as no hospital can function without an imaging service. And even a minimal delay in resolving the problem whether through the maintenance of the on-site system or by moving to the backup …show more content…
PACS Expensiveness
Secondly, PACS systems tend to be very expensive. We are talking about millions of pounds (Strickland, 2000). In the early 2000, an institution that only deploys the basic functions might have to pay about 150,000 pounds while a full PACS in a large hospital can cost around 4 million pounds (Gillespie 2002, cited in Aubry 2004). That often explains why it is only used by relatively few hospitals.
In 2000, after 20 years of existence, there were less than 20 hospitals that are considered as truly filmless. Consequently, the deployment of PACS is currently hampered by the lack of financial means of many small and medium-sized structures that might not have the opportunity to invest in the equipment needed for its implementation, and resources to make it work (Hecht Maximilian). The high cost of the system has also led to the development of small-scale systems (partial PACS). These tend to be confined to the radiology department connected to few services such as intensive care (Huang et al. 1991, P.2).
On the authority of the imaging technology news source published on May 2012, approximately 7000 hospitals are using the PACS worldwide (see comparison chart below). When we consider that in China alone, there are approximately 70 000 hospitals, we can conclude that it the number of PACS users around the world is relatively
3.2.1. The risk of a system failure:
The first and major risk that can result from using PACS is mainly its system failure. Digital data are fragile and can easily be lost or corrupted. It would hence be devastating for any medical facility to function if such central tool keeps shutting down (Strickland, 2000). The consequence would be disastrous for clinical care as no hospital can function without an imaging service. And even a minimal delay in resolving the problem whether through the maintenance of the on-site system or by moving to the backup …show more content…
PACS Expensiveness
Secondly, PACS systems tend to be very expensive. We are talking about millions of pounds (Strickland, 2000). In the early 2000, an institution that only deploys the basic functions might have to pay about 150,000 pounds while a full PACS in a large hospital can cost around 4 million pounds (Gillespie 2002, cited in Aubry 2004). That often explains why it is only used by relatively few hospitals.
In 2000, after 20 years of existence, there were less than 20 hospitals that are considered as truly filmless. Consequently, the deployment of PACS is currently hampered by the lack of financial means of many small and medium-sized structures that might not have the opportunity to invest in the equipment needed for its implementation, and resources to make it work (Hecht Maximilian). The high cost of the system has also led to the development of small-scale systems (partial PACS). These tend to be confined to the radiology department connected to few services such as intensive care (Huang et al. 1991, P.2).
On the authority of the imaging technology news source published on May 2012, approximately 7000 hospitals are using the PACS worldwide (see comparison chart below). When we consider that in China alone, there are approximately 70 000 hospitals, we can conclude that it the number of PACS users around the world is relatively