syngo.plaza

Close on the heels of syngo.via (did you get my subtle references in the syngo.x post as to the name of the new 3d product) comes syngo.plaza:

Welcome to syngo.plaza, the new agile PACS solution for the clinical routine from Siemens Healthcare. As the first Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS) from Siemens where 2D, 3D, and 4D reading come together in one place, syngo.plaza is poised to change the way multimodality images are read today. Siemens is unveiling this innovation at the 95th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) from November 29 to December 3 at McCormick Place (Booth #825, East Building/Lakeside Center, Hall D) in Chicago.

“Customer-focused innovation runs in our veins here at Siemens, and syngo.plaza is a true example of that,” said Arthur Kaindl, CEO, Image and Knowledge Management, Siemens Healthcare. “For the first time, we are now offering fast and accurate multimodality reading on one single workplace, with one intuitive user interface. And we are helping to protect our customers´ investment, as already existing hardware components can be leveraged.”

Prepared Reading

Once an image is obtained, syngo.plaza automatically identifies the type based on the scanner that was used and then, in line with the case complexity, calls up the corresponding 2D, 3D, or 4D applications. Through no-click integration to syngo.via, Siemens new imaging software, users can access the appropriate syngo.via applications directly through syngo.plaza. Combined with a unified user-interface, this allows for a smooth transition between different applications and helps speed up the reading workflow.

With its wide application range, syngo.plaza even helps users master complex multi-modality cases through access to syngo.via and syngo Multimodality Workplace applications. And, with its Patient Jacket functionality, syngo.plaza makes it easy to view patient history at a glance – including prior exams, reports, and Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) presentation states.

Personalized Workplace

In addition to its one-of-a-kind prepared reading capabilities, syngo.plaza also offers two viewing modes for users. The first is a pre-configured intuitive interface. The second is a customizable option that allows users to define and use the layouts they prefer. This role-based view helps streamline the reading workflow and helps eliminate time wasted adjusting to strictly one-size-fits-all PACS technologies. In addition, the time-saving SmartSelect tool enables users to access their most frequently used functions directly in the diagnostic screen without taking their eyes off the images. Plus, syngo.plaza’s innovative system architecture allows clinicians to access the software within their facility or remotely4.

Secured Investment

Finally, syngo.plaza helps to protect customers' investment by offering users the ability to leverage their existing hardware components, functionality, and storage configurations. The system supports the IT components that fit users’ needs and that offer an optimized price-performance ratio. In addition, users can easily adapt to changes in their own environment, enabling their PACS to grow in-line with their needs and budget – and with continuous technical innovations that keep them a step ahead. Furthermore, scalable storage allows syngo.plaza to adjust its shape to users’ requirements – offering multiple solutions ranging from dedicated to shared storage, from single to multiple archives, and from a single workplace to an enterprise PACS, all without compromising performance.

Sounds pretty good, although it still seems to act quite a bit like Amicas 6/Amicas PACS. My friend, Mike Cannavo, the One and Only PACSMan, has seen .plaza in person. He was about to accuse Siemens of rehashing the same old same old, but after viewing the new stuff in Chicago, he came away impressed. Siemens actually, finally, appears to have a working PACS and a good one at that. I'm intrigued by the "leveraging existing hardware" comment: does this mean that syngo.plaza can be used as an overlay to an existing PACS, such as Visage proposes with their PACS/advanced visualization product?

Let's see. . . We have syngo.via, and syngo.plaza. What's next? I know! How about syngo.worksproperlyanddoeswhatitpromises? That would be something quite new amongst the large PACS vendors. . .