Instead of using an IMPAX cluster as a data center, IMPAX spokes can be connected to an IMPAX Data Center hub. IMPAX Data Center is used to store and manage medical images and other healthcare data. IMPAX Data Center (sometimes called IDC) is the central component of a large regional data center. A data center provides the storage and sharing of study data needed for a large collection of hospital groups, each with a local PACS infrastructure.
The image that follows shows the communication between an IMPAX Data Center hub and an IMPAX spoke site, when no patient ID reconciliation is required.
A patient is scheduled to have a radiology procedure. The RIS generates an HL7 ORM message that is received by Connectivity Manager. As the message typically does not include a Study Instance UID, Connectivity Manager generates that.
The modality obtains its worklist from Connectivity Manager. The worklist item for the scheduled patient is chosen, and the Study Instance UID is associated with the images for that patient.
The acquired images are stored to IMPAX.
IMPAX HIS verifies the images by querying Connectivity Manager.
A radiologist reviews the images and creates a report. When the report is finalized, the RIS sends it to Connectivity Manager in an HL7 ORU message.
If necessary, or if configured to always do so, Connectivity Manager obtains the Study Instance UID from IMPAX.
Connectivity Manager stores the report to IMPAX in an XML format.
Connectivity Manager searches IMPAX for referenced predecessor DICOM SR (Structured Report) documents.
Connectivity Manager transforms the current report into a DICOM SR, and uses a DICOM C-STORE to store it to IMPAX.
The images and the DICOM SR are sent from the IMPAX spoke to IMPAX Data Center for archiving.