The Picture Archiving and Communication System ensures all MRIs, ultrasounds, X-rays and CAT scans are sent directly to computers so doctors and patients no longer have to wait for the hard copies to be printed.It also ensures that X-rays will not get lost and allows doctors to dictate their interpretations of the scans, which it then transcribes.An X-ray costs R1 a film and at least two are printed per X-ray. As the need to print is eliminated, the technology will pay for itself, says Victor Mngomezulu, head of the hospital's radiology department.MEC for Health Q edani Mahlangu estimated that at least R1-million is spent a month on printing X-rays or scan results at the hospital.The software allows doctors to view the scans from home, allowing specialists to weigh in from anywhere when a second opinion is needed.It will also prevent radiologists having to walk from one end of the hospital to another to read results from different machines, saving time in a resource-constrained environment.Mahlangu said the department aimed to have all state hospitals that refer to Charlotte Maxeke hospital on the system by the end of March so hard copies of X-rays don't need to be transferred between hospitals.This prevents the expensive redoing of tests when records are lost...