PACS provides near-instant access to images and reports from multiple locations.  Images are captured electronically at each modality and sent to a digital archive, then distributed electronically and interpreted on a workstation in the radiology department.  The PACS archive sends the images and report to a Web server. Patient information is then available to authorized users on any Web enabled PC via the  hospitals Intranet or outside the hospital via the Internet.

In an all-digital environment, physicians will no longer have to wait for images to be filmed or lost studies to be found, because information can be quickly retrieved from the PACS archive.  Through the immediate routing of images to workstations for interpretation, report turnaround time is reduced and patient care is improved due to earlier decisions on management.  PACS brings the images to the physician, rather than the physician wasting precious time searching for films.  Consistent with Emory Healthcare's vision statement of quality, value, service and innovation, PACS will increase efficiency of clinical practices and increase physician productivity.