SCAR program reflects maturing PACS market

By: John C. Hayes, Editor

With attendance topping 2000 this year, the Symposium for Computer Applications in Radiology continued to grow in size, value, and relevance. An expanded educational program delved deeper than ever into emerging technologies such as voice recognition. Presentations about more established technologies, such as PACS archives, continued to evolve.

The number of exhibitors increased along with the attendance. These exhibitors encountered attendees who were somewhat more savvy and demanding than they had been in the past.

As writer Douglas Page notes, the selection of topics this year reflects a turn away from implementation issues to more operational matters. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act captured a lot of attention. The same was true of improving workflow and productivity, an important matter considering the persistent radiology workforce shortages.

Dr. Eliot Siegel, cochair of the SCAR education program and a meeting veteran, agreed that the tone of the gathering is changing.

Several years ago, much of the discussion at SCAR meetings reflected the newness of the technology and focused on showing that PACS could actually work, Siegel said. Now that many facilities have installed and used PACS for a few years, the focus is on maximizing productivity and workflow. Questions have become more sophisticated, and the attendees seem more prepared than in the past.

"It speaks to a maturity of the marketplace and a higher level of acceptance than we've seen before," Siegel said.

Also significant is the power of the meeting to draw participants from all over the world, with 17% of the attendees traveling to Cleveland from outside the U.S. All of which says that PACS and digital imaging have become a vital part of radiology. Watch for their influence to spread worldwide.