Design and implementation of a DICOM PACS with secure access via Internet

Among the last new developments in the field of teleradiology, a new system of telediagnostic which allows the remote transmission of digital images via Internet is prevailing. These communications have to be made through mechanisms that guarantee the confidentiality and the integrity of the clinical data, as well as the authenticity of the transmitter. This system is, in many cases, the only way to diagnose the patient pathology in emergency rooms with no radiologist on call. Access to the medical data from any computer is possible through the implantation of a picture archiving and communication system (PACS) with direct acquisition from DICOM equipment and Web technology. So, the radiologist with a computer connected to the WWW (from inside or outside the hospital) has access to the clinical histories and images. Free distribution software (Apache-PHP-MySQL) and PC platforms in WinNT environment has been used. All the medical imaging equipment of a medium size hospital has been connected to be system, integrating them with the medical history data. Restricted access based on privileges were design to to make reports or only to consult data.