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My review of the book is through the perspective of someone who is somewhat knowledgeable about computer technology but quite lacking in my knowledge of PACS, radiology workflow and processes, and imaging technologies.

Quite simply, this book met all of my goals in filling in the gaps in my knowledge. I'm not going to go through the entire book, but I am going to discuss the chapters that I personally found most useful.

FINANCIAL MODELING
Information technology is full of interesting ideas that lack "financial legs". This chapter discussed finances behind a film-based radiology department and a filmless one including techniques for developing a business case for a PACS.

DICOM
This chapter provides a primer on DICOM. Having a stronger background in HL7, I found this chapter useful in unraveling the mystery and secret language used by DICOM professionals. I now understand the business rational and use of each of the DICOM transactions.

WORKFLOW
This chapter described the workflows in a film-based department and how the workflow should change after the proper implementation of a PACS. Workflow is described from the perspective of the patient, the technologist, and the radiologist. I feel comfortable in creating "straw man workflows" after reading this chapter. One of the most interesting things in this chapter was a description of a traditional time and motion study performed on radiologists before the implementation of a PACS and after implementation.

IMAGE ACQUISITION
This chapter familiarized the reader with the modalities that supply the images to the PACS. I learned about each modality, the different technologies for getting images digitized.

OTHER INTERESTING CHAPTERS
The book also had chapters on Computing Fundamentals, Networking Fundamentals, and Storage Technologies that would be excellent for someone needing a primer in those areas.

SUMMARY
Also, the book did good job of covering certain relevant technical details that would appeal to the more technically inclined but would add to my credibility to be able to understand at a superficial level: Imaging Workstation Technologies, Image Compression, Voice Recognition, Teleradiology, Legal Issues, and Utilization Management.

I too, as the above customer, bought this book to plan the installation of a PACS in our 150 bed hospital. The experiences of the authors and the depth of coverage was excellent for myself (RT/PACS administrator) and the chief of our department (radiologist) as we planned our PACS system. I learned everything I needed to have an intelligent conversation with the vendors we chose to deal with. Our next task will be voice recognition which the book discusses in detail. Thanks!

We are in the process of installing a system wide PACS system at our 350 bed hospital and this book was a god-sent. Explanations are clear and concise, pertinent for all levels of users. I am a radiologist, but our administrator and PACS (to be) administrator also gained much valuable information from this publication.