What is PACS 3.0 and why is it the next thing in Enterprise Medical Imaging?

I recently wrote a rather lengthy white paper on the subject of PACS 3.0.  It was published as a three-part series on AuntMinnie.com.  I strongly urge anyone considering a radiology PACS replacement to read the series.

In Part 1 of this series, I share some of the problems and “myths” associated with the conventional, current generation of radiology PACS, referred to in the series as R-PACS 2.0.

In Part 2 of this series, I focus on the impact of vendor neutral archive and universal viewers (UniViewers) on the current radiology PACS paradigm and examine the opportunities of embracing these technological advancements.

In Part 3 of this series, I describe the PACS 3.0 concept and explore the benefits of making the switch to this new PACS paradigm.

At present, the PACS 3.0 market is clearly in the “innovators” stage of Geoffrey Moore’s technology adoption curve, but it’s important to gain an understanding of the concepts covered in this series if you are preparing for a change of PACS.  A move to the PACS 3.0 construct requires a “best-of-class” mentality, but a best-of-class approach to PACS should no longer be a cautionary strategy for a healthcare organization, especially those with specialized imaging departments, because many traditional R-PACS 2.0 configurations have already become best-of-class due to the various third-party applications that are currently required to meet the stated requirements.  The end of the R-PACS 2.0 paradigm has begun.