An open source based radiological information system to support a clinical cardiology department

A computer-network infrastructure integrates the different components of the digital radiology laboratory, so realizing a functional island able to provide fast storage and browsing of clinical data, to make them remotely available by means of Intranet tools, and to link them into the central information system of the CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, together with the reports. Low cost commercial applications as well as open source programs and advanced operating system (LlNUX) guarantee cost-effectiveness, safety, maintenance, and compatibility with the current clinical standards (i.e., DICOM 3.0 standard). Human error has been reduced by means of a careful use of worklists along the patient identification, data acquisition and reporting phases. The approach of the healthcare personnel to the system has been easy, due to the simple operations necessary for the management of clinical and administrative data. Periodic backup allows to safely storing historical data. Remote real-time retrieval of images for diagnostic as well as for research purposes has made easier the approach of the clinicians to digital radiology.