Medical facilities both large and small began taking advantage of radiological images with film-based systems initially. Eventually, digital imagery became available, and like all new technology, at the start it came at a very high price. This meant that only the largest medical facilities and hospitals could afford to use digital imaging. Now that has all changed. With the tremendous price drops in all types of digital technology, now more than ever small and mid-sized medical facilities can enjoy the benefits that come from digital imaging just as the large facilities have. So in answer to the question of a DICOM viewer being able to change your medical work life, the answer is a resounding yes.

The first part of the digital imaging process has to do with acquiring the image. This occurs through CR or DR imaging systems. Once the image is digitized, you need to be able to see it, and this is where the DICOM viewer comes into play. A DICOM image viewer is a software that allows you to look at DICOM-format images. The DICOM viewer could be placed on a personal computer, or it could live on a server on the Internet, in which case it would be referred to as a DICOM web viewer. A DICOM image viewer can connect to a PACS system, which allows for the sending and receiving of digital medical images, or the images can be retrieved locally as well.

A popular DICOM viewer is the efilm DICOM viewer. The efilm system runs on an ordinary operating system for Windows. This DICOM image viewer lets you display PET and CT images together, and it allows you to choose and display the medical images you want through the use of the thumbnail viewer.

If remote access to digital medical images is a priority for your medical facility, then a DICOM web viewer is in order. This type of DICOM image viewer enables the sending and receiving of digital images via the World Wide Web, saving a dramatic amount of time over traditional film processing and mailing. A web-based DICOM viewer allows for long-distance consultations to occur, leading to better patient care at a fraction of the previous cost. With a web-based DICOM viewer, you can also enhance digital images with built-in image manipulation tools.

A DICOM image viewer also helps you to stay in compliance with HIPPA regulations. These systems offer 128-bit SSL encryption, enabling the safe and secure transmission of patient images and records.

You can find these and other medical digital imaging hardware and software from professional online medical imaging distributors.