Computer gadgets and hacks for the nuclear medicine professional

Learning Objectives The personal computer is an essential component of the nuclear medicine laboratory. Frequently the setup and management of these computers is left to industry, often resulting in expensive high end solutions that are excessively complex. A working knowledge of just a few computer gadgets and hacks can greatly decrease lab costs and increase the speed of educational data assimilation.

Summary: STORAGE: Most cameras transmit data to computers using Unix or Windows based operating systems. Unix data can be easily archived using the open-source, free program rsync and an off-site desktop computer. Windows computers can be backed up using a distributed networking tool. Both are HIPPA compliant. TELERADIOLOGY: Data can be easily stored off-site and transmitted to the reading physician using free HIPPA compliant software and a Unix server for less than $50 USD per month. Works for all operating systems. EDUCATION: Gadgets are small programs that can run independently upon a user's Internet homepage or computer desktop. Using free integrated developer environments, customized news headlines can be delivered directly to the nuclear medicine professional, greatly reducing Internet surf time and login time. Free tools can turn slide presentations into a screen saver, and along with distributed networking, immediately be integrated into all or some of the computers in the clinic. This computer demonstration will highlight several low cost or free solutions to common data storage, organizational, and educational issues. The techniques and tricks used by the author to setup a teleradiology network for next to nothing will be shared. Free software tools and Internet resources will be distributed as part of this presentation.