DICOM and PACS Explained for Veterinary Practices

If you've shopped for imaging software, you've seen the acronyms: DICOM and PACS. They're the backbone of how medical images are stored and shared, and understanding them makes it much easier to evaluate any new imaging tool — including AI.

DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) is the standard format for medical images. It bundles the image itself with metadata — patient and study information, acquisition details, and more — in a consistent, interoperable way.

Because it's a standard, a DICOM image created on one system can be read by another, which is essential for sharing studies between systems and specialists.

PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) is the system that stores, retrieves, and distributes those images. It's the digital library your practice uses to keep studies organized and accessible.

Together, DICOM and PACS let a clinic capture an image, store it, and pull it up later — or route it to a referring veterinarian.

When you add an AI tool, the last thing you want is to rip out your existing workflow. Software that is DICOM and PACS compatible can slot into the systems you already use, analyzing studies without forcing a migration or a parallel process.

Compatibility is the difference between technology that adds steps and technology that disappears into the background of how you already work.

Imagini Health is built to be DICOM and PACS compatible, so AI-assisted analysis layers onto your current imaging stack. You keep your workflow; the AI adds a second set of eyes.

Curious how that would look in your clinic? Explore the veterinary page or get in touch for a demo.