Digital Radiography: Image Post Processing: PACS System and Quality Control-Assurance

Rad Tech Hub By Medical Professionals

25 Jul 202209:41

Summary

TLDRThis video explores the significant impact of advances in computer technology on radiology, covering key concepts like digital image processing, post-processing activities, and imaging protocols. It highlights the use of DICOM, PACS, and HL7 systems in healthcare communication, quality control, and assurance procedures. The video also discusses techniques such as smoothing, edge enhancement, image stitching, and the role of digital subtraction in enhancing image quality. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of following institutional protocols for radiographic imaging while adhering to ALARA standards.

Takeaways

💡 Advances in computer technology have significantly impacted healthcare, particularly in the field of radiology.
📊 The presentation aims to familiarize participants with 11 key objectives related to radiology and digital imaging.
🖼️ Post-processing activities like smoothing, edge enhancement, image stitching, and electronic masking are crucial for image optimization.
🆚 The difference between HIS (Hospital Information System) and RIS (Radiology Information System) is essential for understanding workflow in radiology.
💻 DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) is a standard for medical imaging that facilitates the exchange, viewing, and storing of images.
🗂️ PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) is vital for managing and accessing medical images digitally within a healthcare setting.
🚨 Safety and emergency procedures specific to imaging and communications are necessary for maintaining patient and staff safety.
🔑 HL7 is a standard for electronic health record communication that plays a significant role in healthcare communication systems.
🔄 The discussion of short-term and long-term image archival highlights the importance of data management in radiology.
🔍 Quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA) procedures are differentiated, with a focus on their roles in maintaining imaging standards.
🖥️ Digital imaging systems offer a greater dynamic range than film-screen systems, allowing for more detailed and adjustable images.

Q & A

How have advances in computer technology impacted radiology?
-Advances in computer technology have significantly transformed radiology by enabling digital imaging systems that offer greater dynamic range, allowing for more shades of gray to be captured, and providing capabilities for image manipulation to enhance anatomic structures, suppress noise, and adjust brightness and contrast.
What are the 11 objectives that participants will understand after the presentation?
-The 11 objectives include understanding the purpose of common post-processing activities, differentiating between HIS and RIS, discussing the use of DICOM, describing PACS components and functions, discussing safety and emergency procedures, defining HL7 and its significance, describing short-term and long-term image archival, differentiating between quality control and quality assurance procedures, discussing quality assurance procedures in digital imaging, and discussing imaging artifacts in computed radiography and digital radiography.
What is the purpose of post-processing activities such as smoothing, edge enhancement, image stitching, equalization, and electronic masking?
-Post-processing activities are used to manipulate digital image data to enhance anatomic structures, suppress noise, adjust brightness and contrast, and improve the overall quality and aesthetic appeal of the images for better interpretation by radiologists.
What is the difference between HIS and RIS in the context of radiology?
-HIS stands for Hospital Information System, which manages patient data and administrative tasks across a hospital, while RIS stands for Radiology Information System, which specifically handles the workflow, data, and management related to radiology within a healthcare setting.
What is DICOM and why is it important in radiology?
-DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) is a standard protocol for the transmission and sharing of medical images and related information. It is important because it ensures interoperability between different medical imaging devices and systems, facilitating the sharing of images and reports across various healthcare providers.
Can you describe the components and functions of a Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS)?
-A PACS is a system designed to store, retrieve, manage, and distribute medical images and reports. Its components include image acquisition devices, image storage devices, network systems, workstations, and software applications. PACS functions to improve workflow, reduce physical storage needs, and enhance accessibility of images for healthcare professionals.
What does HL7 stand for and what is its significance in healthcare communication systems?
-HL7 stands for Health Level Seven International, a not-for-profit organization that develops standards for the exchange, integration, sharing, and retrieval of electronic health information. Its significance lies in promoting interoperability and data exchange among different healthcare software systems, improving the efficiency and quality of patient care.
What are the differences between quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA) procedures in radiology?
-Quality control (QC) refers to the specific tests and calibrations performed to ensure that equipment and processes are functioning correctly. Quality assurance (QA) is a broader concept that includes QC procedures as well as the overall management system to ensure consistent quality in the delivery of radiological services.
How does image shuttering enhance the appearance of radiographic images?
-Image shuttering places a black border around the original collimated edges of the image, eliminating any white areas seen around a collimated image, making the displayed image more aesthetically pleasing to the viewer without replacing the need for proper pre-exposure collimation.
What is the role of edge enhancement in digital imaging?
-Edge enhancement is a software function that uses an algorithm to increase the contrast at edges in an image by averaging the signal strength of adjacent pixels. This process results in images with increased contrast, making it easier to visualize anatomic structures.
How does image stitching work in radiology?
-Image stitching is a software function that allows radiographers to join separate, processed images into a single image format. This is particularly useful for studies like scoliosis and limb length assessments that require multiple exposures on separate image receptors.

Outlines

00:00

💡 Digital Imaging Advancements in Radiology

This paragraph introduces the transformative impact of computer technology on the field of radiology, focusing on the application of key terms and their significance in the radiology department. It outlines 11 objectives for participants to achieve by the end of the presentation, including understanding the purpose of various post-processing activities like smoothing, edge enhancement, image stitching, and electronic masking. The paragraph also covers the differentiation between HIS and RIS, the use of DICOM in digital imaging and communication in medicine, the components and functions of PACS, safety and emergency procedures, the definition and importance of HL7 in healthcare communication, and the discussion of image archival and quality assurance procedures. It emphasizes the importance of radiographers following institutional protocols when using software functions and highlights the capabilities of digital imaging systems, such as image shuttering, which improves the aesthetic appeal of displayed images without replacing proper collimation techniques.

05:02

🛠️ Post-Processing Techniques in Radiography

The second paragraph delves into specific post-processing techniques used in radiography, such as digital subtraction angiography (DSA), which was pioneered in the 1970s and is particularly useful for enhancing contrast medium-filled structures while suppressing overlying anatomical structures. It also discusses edge enhancement, a software function that uses algorithms to increase image contrast by averaging the signal strength of adjacent pixels. The paragraph explains the difference between edge enhancement and smoothing, with the latter involving a greater number of pixels averaged to reduce high-frequency noise and produce a smoother image, albeit at the cost of reduced noise, brightness, and image detail. Additionally, the paragraph addresses the process of image stitching, which combines multiple exposures into a single image format, and concludes with a call to action for viewers to purchase the full course for continuing education credits, highlighting the resources available for radiologic technologists to enhance their professional development.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Radiology

Radiology is a medical specialty that uses imaging technology to diagnose and treat diseases. In the context of the video, radiology is the central theme as it discusses the impact of computer technology on this field. The script mentions how digital imaging has transformed radiology by allowing for advanced image processing and analysis.

💡Post-processing Activities

Post-processing activities refer to the manipulation of medical images after they have been initially captured. The script outlines various activities such as smoothing, edge enhancement, image stitching, and equalization. These activities are crucial for improving image quality and making the images more informative for diagnosis.

💡HIS and RIS

HIS stands for Hospital Information System, and RIS stands for Radiology Information System. The script differentiates between these two systems, highlighting their roles in managing patient data and radiology workflow respectively. These systems are integral to the digital transformation of healthcare, streamlining data management and improving patient care.

💡DICOM

DICOM, which stands for Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine, is a standard protocol for the transmission and sharing of medical images and related information. The script discusses the importance of DICOM in facilitating the interoperability of medical imaging devices and systems, which is essential for efficient healthcare communication.

💡PACS

PACS, or Picture Archiving and Communication System, is a digital system used in healthcare to store, retrieve, and transmit medical images. The script describes the components and functions of PACS, emphasizing its role in improving the accessibility and management of medical images within healthcare facilities.

💡HL7

HL7 is a set of international standards for transferring clinical and administrative data between software applications used by various healthcare providers. The script defines HL7 and discusses its significance in the healthcare communication system, highlighting how it contributes to the standardization of data exchange.

💡Image Archival

Image archival refers to the process of storing medical images for both short-term and long-term access. The script touches on the importance of proper archival strategies for maintaining the integrity and availability of medical images, which is crucial for patient care and record-keeping.

💡Quality Control (QC) and Quality Assurance (QA)

Quality Control and Quality Assurance are processes used to ensure the quality of medical imaging equipment and procedures. The script differentiates between QC and QA, explaining that QC involves routine tests performed by technologists, while QA involves more comprehensive evaluations often conducted by medical physicists. Both are essential for maintaining high standards in radiology.

💡Digital Imaging Artifacts

Digital imaging artifacts are errors or distortions that appear in digital images, which can affect the quality and diagnostic value of the images. The script discusses the importance of understanding and mitigating these artifacts in computed radiography and digital radiography, as they can lead to misdiagnoses if not properly managed.

💡Dynamic Range

Dynamic range in digital imaging refers to the ratio between the brightest and darkest elements that can be captured by an imaging system. The script explains that digital imaging systems have a greater dynamic range than traditional film-screen systems, allowing for a wider range of shades of gray to be captured and displayed, which enhances the detail and diagnostic capabilities of the images.

💡Image Shuttering

Image shuttering is a software function that allows radiographers to place a black border around the original collimated edges of an image. The script mentions that this function improves the aesthetic appeal of the displayed image but should not replace proper collimation techniques, which are crucial for reducing patient dose and enhancing image quality.

Highlights

Advances in computer technology have significantly impacted healthcare, particularly in radiology.

The presentation introduces key terms and their applications in radiology departments.

Participants will understand 11 objectives by the end of the presentation.

The purpose of common post-processing activities such as smoothing and edge enhancement will be explained.

The difference between HIS and RIS systems will be discussed.

Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) will be described.

Components and functions of a Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) will be outlined.

Safety and emergency procedures for imaging and communications in healthcare will be covered.

HL7 will be defined and its significance in healthcare communication systems will be discussed.

Short-term and long-term image archival will be explained.

The difference between quality control and quality assurance procedures will be highlighted.

The roles of technologists and medical physicists in QC and QA procedures will be differentiated.

Quality assurance procedures used in digital imaging will be discussed.

Imaging artifacts in computed radiography and digital radiography will be examined.

Digital imaging systems have a greater dynamic range than film screen systems, allowing for more shades of gray.

Computer software capabilities enable manipulation of digital image data for various enhancements.

Radiographers and radiologists can use software adjustments for image enhancement, following institutional protocols.

Image shuttering is a technique to place a black border around the image for aesthetic purposes.

Proper collimation is essential for reducing patient dose and increasing contrast resolution.

The ASRT's position against the use of masking or image cropping in digital images will be mentioned.

Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) enhances contrast medium-filled structures while suppressing others.

Edge enhancement is a software function that increases image contrast by manipulating pixel frequencies.

Smoothing is a function that removes high-frequency noise from images, resulting in a smoother appearance.

Image stitching software allows the joining of multiple images into a single format for comprehensive studies.

The presentation concludes with information on how to earn CE credits and access additional resources.