Upgrade of PACS Workstations Is Complete

The picture archive and communications system (PACS) used in Main O.R. and the 310 Surgery Center has undergone a much-anticipated upgrade.

Highlights of the upgrade are new computer hardware and a 50-inch monitor capable of remaining active, or not "timing out," for up to eight hours. "The 50-inch screens provide higher resolution and clarity," said Gary Nobiensky, clinical equipment coordinator for O.R. services.

The upgraded PACS workstations also have more storage capability and provide the ability to view the majority of outside CDs.

"Our goal is to provide the best tools for our surgeons so that they can provide the best patient care possible," Nobiensky said. "The surgeons provided us feedback on the current workstations, and with their input in mind, we feel this upgrade not only expands their ability to display images in the O.R. but also accommodates newer types of imaging technology."

"The upgrade improves the system's ability to make information about each patient case easily accessible to physicians throughout the surgical process," said J. Patrick Johnson, MD, a neurosurgeon and co-medical director of the Cedars-Sinai Spine Center. "It ensures that we have all the correct images that we need to perform the surgery in a safe, timely manner."

The system upgrade was completed in August.