Introduction
This manual is designed to assist all levels of users that are accessing the RamSoft software product suites, which include PowerServer™, PowerServer RIS/PACS™, Gateway QC™, Gateway Mammo™, PowerReader™, Essence™, RapidResults™, and PowerCache™. It contains information on customizing and monitoring the system, as well as using the system to perform tasks in the medical imaging environment.
The contents of the manual are grouped into several sections. Each section pertains to a certain set of tasks or features that are usually associated with a specific type of user. The contents of each section can be read through in detail or the search tool can be used to find answers to specific questions.
The first portion of the manual describe the details of Practice Management (RIS/PACS/PM).
The second section of the manual is System Configuration & Customization. This section describes how to initially configure the software and how to tailor it to the needs of the facility. It is recommended that this section be read after a new installation has been carried out. Any topics that apply to the site, should be analyzed in detail and the options described in this section should be utilized to configure the software to the site's requirements.
Once a system has been installed and properly configured, it can begin functioning. The Finding & Organizing Data section of the manual describes how patient and study data can be located within the system. This area should be viewed by all users to increase their understanding of the software and to increase their productivity.
The system offers a variety of methods for retrieving and exporting data for distribution purposes. These methods are described in detail in the Output section of the manual.
The main purpose of a Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) are storage and display of medical images. This software provides numerous tools that can be used to modify and enhance the display of the images. This is especially useful in extracting the required information. The Viewing Images section describes the display environment and the features available while viewing images. Additionally, many important Viewing Images features are also accessible in a tablet with RapidResults
The PACS system has to exchange information with various modalities, other DICOM stations and different DICOM printers. All these products perform different functions and are usually created by different manufacturers. Although standards exist for exchanging this information, these exchanges are not always perfect. Due to manufacturer incompatibilities or operator errors, problems can arise. Hence, quality control is performed before the patient data is used. The Quality Control section provides instructions on how to perform a number of quality control tasks commonly associated with the medical imaging environment.
Essence can help address this problem in radiology by displaying key metrics that allows for quick assessment regarding the state of the system. The included reports and dashboards give radiologist and administrators real-time, context specific information allowing for optimized decision making. Depends on the license, Essence also provides access to Report Designer so the users can build their own custom reports
The software provides various reporting tools for physicians to help with their study diagnoses. Audio information can be recorded into the software and written reports can also be created. These reports, including reports with images, can be created in a variety of ways. The Reporting Tools section describes this functionality.
Each RamSoft software product is designed for configuration during the installation process and is self-sufficient afterwards. The system runs nightly backup and maintenance activities. It automatically archives studies as needed and prevents the main storage disks from getting filled. If configured properly, it runs with minimal user maintenance. However, it is imperative that technical and administrative users monitor the system periodically. This ensures that all system and user tasks are performed properly. The administrative users can also monitor user activity throughout the system. These features are described in the Monitoring the System section.
The Advanced System Configuration area provides information on a variety of features and settings that can be customized to enhance the user experience.
Finally, a list of all Shortcut Keys is provided. These can be very useful for users who are keyboard oriented. These shortcut keys are also to integrate custom joysticks, microphones, foot pedals and other devices that increase efficiency.