What Is DICOM in Health Care?

The health care landscape is rapidly evolving. Because of these continuous advancements, it is more important than ever for medical imaging systems to communicate efficiently, integrate and work well together. That is where DICOM comes in. This standardized method allows the viewing and sharing of medical images across organizations. 

If you are unfamiliar with DICOM programs, handling these files can seem challenging. In this guide, we define DICOM and explore its complexities to help you take advantage of this framework.

What Does DICOM Stand For?

DICOM stands for Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine. Essentially, DICOM is the standard that defines how to format and exchange medical images and related data. These standards can apply to any field of medicine where medical imaging technology is used, such as radiology, oncology, cardiology and dentistry. 

Digital imaging systems, governed by DICOM, have essentially eliminated the need for film-based images and their physical storage. Instead, medical images and related data can be stored digitally, on local servers or in the cloud.

Why Is DICOM Important?

DICOM is essential in today's health care facilities for a few key reasons.

Workflows

DICOM ensures seamless communication between diverse systems. As a result, it can streamline medical imaging across all types of health care settings. This is especially important in places where multiple modalities, like X-ray, MRI, CT and ultrasound, are used. The standard can help you quickly access and share images, reducing the time spent looking for files. 

Patient Care

DICOM can enhance the quality of patient care by granting timely access to diagnostic information. 

Medical images are needed in clinical analysis, diagnosis and treatment as part of a patient's care plan. The information collected can help identify health abnormalities. It can also help providers chart treatment progress.

Diagnostics

These systems contain relevant patient and procedural information for diagnostics. This sets it apart from traditional image formats like JPEG and TIFF. 

Your team can easily gain access to information about the patient and the procedure, as well as information on the equipment used. It also shows all professionals involved — offering a complete context for each exam.

Administration

DICOM's storage commitment service allows images to be stored independently from acquisition devices. This frees them up for new imaging procedures. The archiving system can help you efficiently access files and manage updates at once. Digital storage conserves physical space while reducing material waste. 

What Are DICOM Files?

DICOM files are specialized digital files that store, transmit and manage medical imaging data. Images are stored in a specific DICOM file format and transferred using a DICOM operation. Essentially, DICOM is both a file type and a transfer method between imaging devices.

Features of DICOM Files

Several features make DICOM files especially useful in medical settings:

• Interoperability: DICOM files are designed to work across various imaging modalities and devices. They also ensure interoperability between different manufacturers. Health care facilities use DICOM files to ensure seamless communication and compatibility.
• Comprehensive data handling: These files let you store both images and their associated data in a single file. This makes it easier for health care providers to access important information at once. 
• Advanced functionality: DICOM files support image manipulation, analysis, and archiving. They can be used in a range of clinical applications.

Benefits of DICOM Files

Adopting DICOM files for your organization offers benefits like:

• Improved workflow efficiency: DICOM files standardize how images and data are stored and shared. As a result, they can streamline imaging processes within health care facilities.
• Enhanced collaboration: These files can improve diagnosis and treatment planning. They make it easier to share images and data across different providers.  
• Better patient outcomes: Quick access to high-quality images and relevant data helps providers make more informed decisions, ultimately improving patient outcomes. 

What Is DICOM Format? 

DICOM format is a standardized file structure. It ensures interoperability and facilitates seamless communication in health care environments. The DICOM format encompasses the following components:

• Image data: This data is the visual representation of medical images, such as X-rays, MRIs or CT scans. 
• Metadata: The metadata includes detailed information about the image, such as the patient's name and date of birth, the type of exam and the machine settings.
• Tags: These unique identifiers help you categorize and index all data to organize and quickly retrieve it.

The DICOM file uses the “.dcm” extension. It supports various imaging modalities, making it useful for various clinical applications. Its standardized communication protocols make exchanging information between devices faster and easier.

What Is the DICOM Protocol?

The DICOM protocol focuses on five primary functions in medical imaging:  

• Transmit and persist images and data: The DICOM standard lets you seamlessly transmit medical images and data from one device to another, from imaging modalities — like MRI or CT scanners — to workstations or Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACs). This function ensures that you can access patient images when needed.
• Query and retrieve files: DICOM lets you quickly query and retrieve medical images stored in databases. You can search for specific images based on criteria like patient ID or imaging modality. This functionality can reduce the time spent finding images, enhancing workflow efficiency in your facility.  
• Specific actions like printing or archiving: The DICOM standard supports printing or archiving images for long-term storage. This capability is crucial for maintaining comprehensive patient records and ensuring images are available for reference.
• Support digital imaging workflows: DICOM lays the framework for managing complex digital imaging workflows. This includes facilitating the integration of imaging devices and ensuring all images are processed, stored and shared efficiently. By standardizing these workflows, DICOM enhances collaboration between your teams and improves patient care. 
• Provide high-quality images for diagnostics: The DICOM protocol ensures that medical images are high-quality and retain the necessary detail for an accurate diagnosis. By maintaining image integrity when transmitted and stored, DICOM lets you make better decisions using clear and precise imaging data.

Candelis Can Simplify Your DICOM File Handling Process

DICOM is an essential protocol for health care facilities. The protocol can streamline your workflow and improve patient care, providing quick access to critical medical information and ensuring all imaging devices work together effectively. Candelis has a range of fully integrated DICOM products that can create a complete solution for your organization. 

From our ImageGrid DICOM routers to PACS solutions, we can help you simplify image transfer and improve radiology efficiencies. We also offer ongoing tech support, so we can help you with DICOM files whenever needed.

Are you interested in getting started? Contact us today to learn more about our DICOM solutions and how you can leverage them in your organization.