Pacs
Last updated: 2026-03-29
PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System)
The PACS module allows you to store, view, and manage medical imaging such as X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and ultrasounds. It connects directly with your facility's imaging machines to automatically receive patient scans and provides an integrated viewer and reporting tool for radiologists and doctors.
When Do I Use This?
- As a Radiologist: To review patient images, analyze the scans, and write the official diagnostic report (Findings and Impressions).
- As a Referring Doctor: To quickly pull up and view a patient's X-ray or MRI from your computer.
- As a Radiology Technician/Nurse: To verify that images have successfully transferred from the scanning machine to the patient's digital record.
How To Use
Navigating the PACS Dashboard
- From the main menu, go to Health → Radiology → PACS.
- You will see menu options for Study, Series, and Instance.
- Click on Study to see a list of all patient imaging exams.
Viewing Medical Images (DICOM Viewer)
You can view images directly within the browser without downloading special software.
- Open the Series or Instance report list.
- Locate the specific patient scan you want to view.
- Click the DICOM Viewer option next to the record.
- The medical viewer will open. You can use your mouse to scroll through the image slices and adjust the view.
Writing a Radiology Report
- Go to the Study list and open the patient's specific study.
- Scroll to the reporting fields: Indication, Technique, Findings, and Impression.
- Type in your clinical observations and diagnosis.
- Click Save to update the study record.
Field Descriptions
Study (The Overall Exam)
A "Study" represents a single imaging appointment for a patient (e.g., "MRI of the Brain").
| Field Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Patient | The patient who received the scan. |
| Date | The date and time the imaging study was performed. |
| Description | A brief description of the exam (e.g., "Chest X-Ray PA/LAT"). |
| Indication | The medical reason for the scan (e.g., "Chronic cough, rule out pneumonia"). |
| Technique | How the scan was performed (e.g., "Non-contrast CT, 5mm slices"). |
| Findings | Detailed clinical observations made by the radiologist based on the images. |
| Impression | The final conclusion or diagnosis provided by the radiologist. |
Series (The Exam Phases)
A "Series" is a group of images within the study (e.g., "Axial view", "Coronal view", or "Post-Contrast").
| Field Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Study | The main exam this series belongs to. |
| Modality | The type of machine used (e.g., CT, MR, CR, US). |
| Note | Additional technician or system notes regarding this specific series. |
Instance (The Individual Image Slices)
An "Instance" is a single image slice within a series.
| Field Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Number | The specific slice number in the sequence. |
| Image / DICOM | The actual image file. The system automatically converts medical DICOM files into viewable images. |
| Size | The file size of the image slice. |
Tip: Automated Syncing! You rarely need to create Studies, Series, or Instances manually. When a patient is scanned, the imaging machine automatically sends the files to the system. Minerva will automatically create the patient record (if new), the study, the series, and attach all the images for you to review immediately.
Tip: Modality Worklist (MWL) Connection: When you schedule a patient for a radiology exam in the system, Minerva automatically sends the patient's name and details to the actual X-Ray/CT/MRI machine. The technician just selects the patient from the machine's screen, preventing typos and mix-ups.