Understanding the DICOM standard is important, especially for medical buyers. And while it might be tempting to purchase a standard Dell display from Amazon, commercial monitors don’t incorporate the necessary standards needed to act as a medical imaging solution. So, with this in mind — what exactly is DICOM and why is it pivotal for medical monitors?
‘Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine‘ was developed by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association and the American College of Radiology in 1983. Essentially, this is a standard protocol for the management and transmission of medical images within any medical setting.
What Is DICOM Used For?
DICOM is an international standard. It’s mission — to ensure the interoperability of systems that are being used to produce, store, share, display and print medical images. Medical imaging solutions can be used in a wide variety of medical fields, including radiology, cardiology, oncology and dentistry. As a result, vendors who manufacture medical imaging equipment and software, such as MRI and PACS, already follow the standard and so require medical screens that are fully compatible with modalities and the wider medical environment.
When a medical display is ‘DICOM standard compliant‘ it essentially means that it is able to easily and safely store and transmit medical images and patient data in a standardized format. As a result, physicians are able to easily access data and therefore, make an accurate diagnosis from anywhere in the world.
Where Can I Find The DICOM Standard?
In terms of the standard itself, DICOM is available to view here. The document, which is 22 parts long, covers the standards overview, definitions, data structures and encoding. It also touches upon media storage, formats, security and other important aspects of DICOM’s standardization and protocols.
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