OTech: Is your PACS ready for DICOM 4.0?

OTech: Is your PACS ready for DICOM 4.0?: Despite the title of this article, DICOM does not have any version indicator; as a matter of fact, the DICOM standardization committee, lo...

DSRSVC DICOM Modality Worklist Server - Update

I got a response that the Database plugin for the DICOM Server crashes. Where was a problem in DICOM Database Plugin that didn't export the configuration symbol and as a result the server didn't pick it up.
This problem is now fixed and the new build is available on the download page. If you've downloaded version 2.0.2.2, please download version 2.0.2.3 instead.
I would like to thank Igor that found this problem and reported it to me.

DICOM Modality Worklist Server

HRZ DICOM Server is in use for many years in my custom software projects. It's a windows based service that is easily installed and configured. I've been using it since 2008 for various purposes and it is now a very stable and reliable software.
In this post I'm going to present its use as a Modality Worklist Server (or in short MWL SCP), explain how to install the software and how to configure the database to match your needs. Then, on the next post, I'm going to combine it together with processing HL7 order message to schedule a new work item. This will close the gap between HL7 and DICOM and we'll have most of the parts of IHE's radiology schedule workflow (SWF) integration profile.

What's the difference between a DICOM Server and a PACS?

Throughout the years, as PACS evolved, there were many debates about what is the feature set that makes a PACS? Does it have to have a Viewer? Does it have to provide all DICOM services? Should it have HL7? Many questions and even more answers. Calling it a DICOM Server is a laundry cleaning bypass of all that. It's a DICOM Server meaning it serves requests for DICOM Clients. What services does it provide? DSRSVC is a Storage SCP by default and you can add more services to it as you like using a plugin API. In the download page you'll find two plugins. The INI file plugin provides configuration for the storage service. The MS SQL Server DICOM Database Plugin adds:

• Query/Retrieve SCP, 
• Storage Commitment SCP and 
• Modality Worklist SCP

Throughout the years it was used in all kind of applications, as an inbox for web viewer, as a CAD engine, as a departmental archive, as a proxy, as a bridge, and many more.

If you're looking to speed up development and use an off-the-shelf software product that you can easily extend, customize and integrate with your system, read on.