For your physician, the X-ray of your ribcage may be no more than one click away.

The radiology department of Nash General Hospital has launched a project that will electronically store images that have been traditionally stored on X-ray film. The project, which was implemented in January, is called Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) for Radiology.

But why go digital? Several benefits of the project include:

• Faster access to images for physicians—regardless of their location
• Improved efficiency for radiologists and cardiologists
• Reduction of film storage space and associated costs
• Images are available to more than one person at a time.

This means that physicians will be able to access their patients X-rays anytime, from any location. Online access to images will be more efficient, and enable physicians to provide faster interpretation---which will all lead to a bottom line of improving patient care.

For the PACS implementation, Nash Health Care Systems has contracted with General Electric, a company widely recognized as the industry leader for PACS systems.

Key individuals involved with the PACS project include Steve Jones, Director of Imaging Services, Robin Marriott-Edwards, assistant director of imaging services, and Johnny Etheridge, PACS Administrator.