Data Exchange Standards Flashcards
Why does data communication need to follow OPEN standard protocols?
So that each device can understand and communicate with one another, even if equipment is from different manufacturers.
What is an open standard?
A standard that is published and available to all interested parties. There may be conditions for access, such as payment or joining of an organisation.
What is the ideal open standard?
One that is non-proprietary and freely available. All interested parties should also be able to contribute to the development of the standard.
What incentivises manufacturers to use open standards?
It creates the biggest possible market for their equipment.
What incentivises users to use open standards?
It is easier to understand how communication takes place and it allows choice of the best quality equipment from all manufacturers.
What incentivises everyone to use open standards?
It makes troubleshooting significantly easier. All stakeholders work together to develop the standard.
Give 2 examples of open standards
TCP/IP
UDP
State 4 sources of standards
- International standards organisations
- National standards organisations
- Professional standards
- Corporate/organisational standards
State 4 differences between standards and the law
1) Adherence to standards is generally voluntary, unlike the law.
2) Standards are the same, regardless of where they’re implemented, whereas the law is specific to each country.
3) One version of the law is in effect at any one time but standards are constantly evolving so there may be several versions active at once.
4) Interpretation of the law is decided by courts while interpretation of standards is decided by the people who implement it.
What is the data alliance and partnership board (DAPB)?
An NHS standard that provides guidance on ICT, information governance, the use of other standards in the NHS, and many other topics (it has a very broad range). Compliance is seen as best practice and can be mandated under British law.
What does DICOM stand for?
Digital
Imaging and
COmmunications in
Medicine
What is DICOM?
A standard covering digital imaging and associated data (i.e. CT, MRI, PET, radiotherapy data, patient reports, modality worklists, etc.). It is coordinated by NEMA and is developed by multiple working groups using a consortium based approach. It is not enforced, only voluntarily adhered to.
What does the DICOM standard cover?
- Standard data types and services
- Transfer of data across a network
- Storage onto media
- Compatibility between systems (conformance)
- Data compression
- Security
- Consistent standard for image display and output
What is a medical image?
A visual representation of the human body or its parts. They are used for diagnosis and treatment of diseases, or for research purposes.
What is a DICOM data element?
A unit of information with a defined data type and structure. Standard elements are uniquely indexed by ‘tag’ and name.
Give 3 examples of DICOM data elements
Patient name
CT slice position
Gantry angle
What is a DICOM information object?
A set of elements which together describe a physical entity.
Give 3 examples of DICOM information objects
CT slice
Digital radiograph
Radiotherapy plan
What is a DICOM service class/group?
An action which can be performed on DICOM information objects.
Give 3 examples of DICOM service classes/groups
Transferring data between systems
Archiving
Printing
What is a DICOM service object pair (SOP)?
A defined action which can be performed on a particular DICOM information object.
Give an example of a DICOM service object pair
Storage of a CT slice.
What does DIMSE stand for?
[DI]COM
[M]essage
[S]ervice
[E]lement
What are the 5 most common DIMSE service classes?
- Verification (C-ECHO)
- Storage (C-STORE)
- Query (C-FIND)
- Retrieve (C-MOVE / C-GET)
- Printing
