The launch of the Northwestern Ontario Teleradiology Service - Picture Archiving & Communication Systems (PACS) was held on Wednesday, June 9th at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. Click here for photo coverage of the event.

When you visit the Diagnostic Imaging (DI) department at the new Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, you will see a lot of exciting changes.

The biggest change ... we will no longer be using film for diagnostic imaging examinations. The new state-of-the-art PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication Systems) is completely implemented. Key components sending images to PACS include digital radiography, computed radiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear medicine, ultrasound, angiography and mammography.

All images generated will be stored in the PACS system. The images can be viewed on compatible personal computers (PC's) with the proper software (EasyWeb and EasyVision). PC's with EasyVision will be available to authorized users in all departments requiring access to diagnostic imaging examinations. PC's with EasyWeb will be available to authorized persons at clinics, home offices and other medical centres. In addition, DI reports and pertinent information will also be readily accessible to authorized users via their PC's with EasyVision and/or EasyWeb.

No more searching for film bags, reprinting of lost images, sending films out of hospital. Prime hospital space will be freed-up as the massive film libraries become digital libraries. Much faster access to current and recent DI examinations.

In DI, virtual elimination of x-ray processors, chemicals, film folders,film bags, film envelopes, examination labels ... the list goes on!

All the digital imaging equipment in DI will be linked to the PACS. Once the imaging technologist has completed the examination and post-processing, the images will be available within seconds on the PACS. These images will, therefore, be readily available to all authorized users throughout the hospital and outlying region.

There are still procedures that involve the use of "x-ray cassettes". This modality is called Computed Radiography (CR). These cassettes have imaging plates inside instead of film. Once the x-ray is taken, the imaging plate store the "image" until the cassette is placed back into the CR reader. The image is displayed on the workstation and the plate is then placed back into the cassette ready for another examination. You will see us using these for certain procedures in DI as well as portable work on patient floors, emergency department, renal department, operative procedures and adult & neonatal intensive care units.

Digital Radiography (DR) acquires digital images without cassettes. The plate is incorporated into the diagnostic imaging equipment. Shortly after the x-ray is taken, the image is available on the workstation. Post-processing is performed by the medical radiation technologist and then the images are sent to PACS.

Computer Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) have been sending their images to PACS for quite a few months now. Some medical centres in Northwestern Ontario have been using CR equipment for a few months. Their DI images are available on the PACS. Some centres are also sending ultrasound images to PACS.

This is very new to Thunder Bay and the region so please be patient with us.

Curious about this new "digital environment"? Please ask questions. If we're not too busy we will try to answer most, if not all, of your questions.

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