{"id":1297,"date":"2015-07-10T15:03:17","date_gmt":"2015-07-10T15:03:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/probo2020.bssdev.com\/?p=1297"},"modified":"2021-11-01T02:19:21","modified_gmt":"2021-11-01T02:19:21","slug":"how-to-connect-an-ultrasound-to-dicom-or-pacs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stage.probomedical.com\/ca\/learn\/blog\/how-to-connect-an-ultrasound-to-dicom-or-pacs\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Connect an Ultrasound to DICOM or PACS"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Understanding one of the most confusing parts of ultrasound setup<\/h2>\n
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DICOM and PACS. These are the dreaded words I hear when a customer calls for technical support. It\u2019s rarely an easy conversation, and more often a very frustrating one for the ultrasound user. The reason?\u00a0Sonographers and physicians are not IT professionals. And to connect to DICOM or PACS, you need to have some background in understanding your router and basic networking.<\/p>\n

From \u201cwhat is an IP address\u201d to failed image transfer, this can be a complicated issue, particularly for those without an existing IT department.<\/p>\n

The problem, though, is that I can\u2019t fix many of the problems\u00a0over the phone. Someone typically needs to be on-site to check the routers and trace the problem. At the bottom of this post, I\u2019ve outlined the most common problems experienced when setup is done properly. That list solves 95% of problems. The rest of this post gives an overview of what\u2019s needed to get set up.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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A DICOM software option makes image transfer easy, but it can be difficult to set up.<\/p>\n

DICOM is one of the most misunderstood and confusing things for experienced and inexperienced users. Unfortunately, there\u2019s nothing out there that explains it well. There\u2019s a reason for that\u2026 the reason is that it\u2019s different for every machine, every network, and every radiologist. All three components are given unique, specific information that can only be provided by parties directly involved with the network. If you need to know more about DICOM and PACS, you\u2019ll see some definitions at the end of this post.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s look at this as though you\u2019re having FedEx pick up images and deliver them to your radiologist. In order to do so, you must have a FedEx account, an address from which FedEx can pick up your images, and a delivery address. When these addresses are confirmed, you can schedule FedEx to pick up and deliver your images whenever you so desire.<\/p>\n

In the DICOM Networking world, this is very similar. You need three\u00a0things: 1) a network connected to the Internet, 2) your own network address that will let your machine connect to the Internet, and 3) a network address to deliver the images. These addresses are called IP Addresses, and they\u2019re unique to your machine and theirs. In place of your name, they have something called an AE Title, which uniquely identifies you as the sender. Finally, there\u2019s a port number, which is similar to saying the images will only be accepted via FedEx (not UPS, USPS, or other carrier).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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So, in order to get connected, you need to connect to the network,\u00a0and provide your ultrasound with the\u00a0proper addresses and information for delivery.<\/p>\n

So, unless you run your own network and plan to read your own studies, you can\u2019t do this on your own.\u00a0Setting up DICOM requires the help of at least one IT professional\u2026 one on the receiving (server) side, and probably one for your own network.<\/p>\n

If you have an IT person, it is best to try and let them take over.<\/p>\n

Following the steps below,\u00a0you\u2019ll be armed with the proper information and steps to get your DICOM images sent properly to the radiologist.<\/p>\n

STEP 1: Call the person, department or company who will be receiving and reading\u00a0your studies. Tell them you need the\u00a0DICOM information to enter into your\u00a0ultrasound machine. That person is going to give you a list that has a bunch of numbers and names. This list will include, but is not limited to:<\/p>\n