DICOM and Medical Imaging
Practical Control have been using the DICOM standard is recent work whilst displaying X-RAY information held in other proprietary equipment. DICOM stands for Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine and defines how images can be shared between applications. It is used for all types of medical images that include cardiology, dentistry, endoscopy, mammography, ophthalmology, orthopedics, pathology,
pediatrics, radiation therapy, radiology, surgery, etc.
DICOM is an upper layer protocol which sits on TCP/IP. It allows query and retrieval of records/objects and defines the quality and consistency of images botn when displaying and printing.
Security is handled in DICOM by transport layer security (TLS). The TLS standard is currently TLS version 1.2.
DICOM is additionally being trialled for GP access to patient care pathways for recall of images from hospitals. This is being trialled in Hertfordshire. Further information can be found on the NHS Expo website.
