U.K. Royal College of Radiologists PACS/teleradiology group launches Web site

The British PACS and teleradiology special interest group will be getting its message out into cyberspace. A new impetus in favor of PACS from the U.K. Department of Health involves the setting up of PACSnet (an evaluation body) and a service provided by the U.K. National Health Service purchasing body.

It is likely that many more radiologists will be wanting to get involved with the special interest group, which provides an independent, professional forum for exchange of experiences.

The objectives of the group remain to:

• monitor the state of development of PACS and teleradiology in the U.K. and its relationship to the electronic patient record

• encourage members in the development of PACS within their institutions

• share information about PACS and teleradiology as it develops worldwide, to ensure that its development in the U.K. is as effective as possible

• provide a pool of expertise that can be consulted by other groups looking into the electronic patient record and PACS developments

• maintain close contacts with these other groups

• set up a means of communication

At the last meeting of the group in Norwich, East Anglia, England, members agreed to set up a new group Web site and discussion board to facilitate information exchange and to provide links to PACS and teleradiology-related sites.

The home page of www.pacsgroup.org.uk

The group's Web site includes member-recommended links to PACS and teleradiology literature and a section for asking PACS advice from experts. The Web site has also been set up to be the primary method for contacting members of the group.

Visitors to the site can gain general access through registration but will need to join the group by e-mailing the group's secretary (secretary@pacsgroup.org.uk) to gain special access to private group discussions.

To become full members of the special interest group, visitors must be fellows of the Royal College of Radiologists, colleagues in the Republic of Ireland, or radiologists working in the U.K. with European Specialist accreditation. Associate memberships are available for those hospital and health service colleagues in services including, radiography, clinical IT, and physics.

Dr. Dave Lloyd, a consultant radiologist at the University Hospital of Wales, is the group chair and Dr. Keith Foord, a consultant radiologist at Conquest Hospital, Hastings, U.K., is the group secretary.

The group meets at least twice per year at sites around the U.K. The next meeting is planned for November 2002 in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England.