Healthcare systems use a variety of devices and picture archiving and communications system (PACS) tools to digitally acquire and store medical images respectively. The Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) protocol ensures these various technologies can successfully communicate with each other, which leads to more efficient care and enhances patient safety.
Before DICOM was established as the global protocol, radiologists relied on hard copies of medical images, which were printed like photographs. If one doctor needed to collaborate with another, a physical folder…
