Jennifer Decker Arevalo

McHenry County Orthopaedics in Crystal Lake, IL, adopted PACS in 2002, a year after moving into a new 35,000-square-foot facility. The new site offers state-of-the-art technology, including digital and computed radiography.

Although most orthopedists have heard of PACS or seen the software on display at a medical conference, few have had the time to learn about it in detail. A growing number of orthopedists are contemplating integrating PACS into their practice, however, and understanding filmless radiology prior to purchase and implementation is critical.

A successful PACS implementation outside of the radiology department requires planning, organization, and flexibility, according to research presented at the PACS 2005 conference in San Antonio.

Electronic health records are beneficial for small or solo physician practices, according to researchers from the University of California, San Francisco reporting in the September/October 2005 issue of Health Affairs.