The Department of Radiology at New England Baptist Hospital was among the first in the country to completely replace old-fashioned X-ray films with their electronic equivalent. Working in a "filmless" environment has revolutionized diagnostic imaging at the Baptist. Aside from no longer having to handle cumbersome and costly films, this "filmless" environment allows New England Baptist Hospital to provide a higher level of patient care. Electronic data transmission, or the ability to store and send diagnostic images electronically, allows for a patient's entire medical history to exist in a single electronic health packet, translating to more consistent and comprehensive patient care. It also enables rapid communication of a patient's medical records to physicians and other clinicians, avoiding delays in diagnosis and treatment.
The Department of Radiology at the Baptist utilizes the PACS system for the storage and transmission of its electronic data. An acronym for Picture Archival Communication System, PACS uses special equipment to maintain a permanent database of images. By storing these images in various electronic forms, PACS makes information easily retrievable for both physicians and patients through a secure digital access system. This enables a patient's physician to have access to both current and older examinations for a more thorough evaluation.