Olicon readies software-only PACS

PACS firm Olicon is preparingto release a software-only version of its teleradiology workstationsoftware. The product, which does not yet have a commercial name,runs on off-the-shelf PCs and will enable radiologists and referringphysicians to set up a teleradiology link for about $1000.

Olicon demonstrated the software-only capability at last month'sAmerican Healthcare Radiology Administrators' meeting in Las Vegas.The San Clemente, CA, company plans to roll out an official productat this year's Radiological Society of North America conferencein November.

Olicon's software-only product is Windows-based and can runon a desktop or laptop computer. Olicon recommends that it beused primarily for secondary reading of images acquired by digitalmodalities. Color monitors used on many off-the-shelf PCs do notdisplay gray-scale images adequately for primary diagnosis, accordingto the company.

The software enables imaging facilities to set up a teleradiologylink for far less than the $17,000 it would cost for Olicon'shigh-end system, according to CEO Dick Paulsen.

"Where this differs from our traditional product lineis that now a radiologist at home can have an off-the-shelf PCand add our software to it as a low-end receive station,"Paulsen said.