Modality work list

Implements Modality Work list Information Model - MWLIM" from the DICOM -- SOP Class UID 1.2.840.10008.5.1.4.31 standard... 

Step 1 the PACS initiates a query to the MWL - Modality Work list - this is a software application that stands between the PACS, RIS and medical imaging equipment. This is the application that informs in real time the equipment operator about the patients that must be investigated and the type of procedure to be undertaken. 

The solution is to have the overall information system provide the modality with a list of exams to be performed and their IDs (block arrow 2 in Fig. 8.2) from which the operator only needs to select the exam. The importance of this function for the digital workflow cannot be overstressed. This work list may even contain additional information such as the type of exam to be performed or the body part, thereby enabling the modality to suggest predefined settings or a specific sequence of images. 

As discussed in Sect. 8.2.2.3, there must be a request for the exam in the RIS before it can appear on a work list. Each individual modality may get its own work lists (provided resource allocation is performed into sufficient detail in the computer system) or all modalities of a group may share the same list. 

The functionality for a modality to receive a work hst has been standardized in the DICOM framework. As most HlSs do not speak DICOM natively and given that the PACS may require lists of scheduled exams for other purposes as well (see Sect. 8.3.2.1) a common approach is for the HIS to communicate this information to the PACS and to have the PACS internally distribute work lists to the individual modalities (dotted block arrow 2 in Fig. 8.2). Communication from HIS to PACS is most often using the HL7 standard. 

Modality worklist enables the modality to query an information system for information on exams to perform, typically used to present work lists to the modality operator. 

In the particular case of integration within the radiology environment, one finds radiology information systems that comply with HL7 and PACS that operate with DICOM 3.0. Typically these systems are integrated through a device called a broker that serves to translate appropriate messages from the RIS in HL7 to the PACS in DICOM 3.0. An example is the translation of HL7 orders generated in the RIS to DICOM 3.0 work lists that are forwarded to the appropriate modality. 

With a cost of capital of 10 percent the various cash flows can be discounted and summed. Thus for the base cases Z Af = 2,815,600, Z Ajp/d = 754,716, Z Aofd = 614,457, and Z C c/d = 61,446. With corporate taxes payable at 50 percent the aftertax cash flows of the first three items are (1 — 0.50) of the sums calculated above. The discounted working capital and the fixed-capital outlay are not subject to tax. These most probable values are listed and summed in Table 9-11 and, after adjustment for tax, give the modal value of the (NPV) as 276,224. 

One idea was to offer the macro functionality as an extra input modality for everybody. For this reason we implemented a software prototype which is able to recognize a list of gestures and trigger a corresponding command. We used the WM APPCOMMAND of the Windows operating system to realize an open document, save document and close document function which works with standard... 

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