Computer Networking in Nuclear Medicine
CONTINUING EDUCATION Computer Networking In Nuclear Medicine Michael K. O'Connor Department of Radiology, The Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota to the possibility of not only connecting computer systems Objective: The purpose of this article is to provide a com from different vendors, but also connecting these systems to prehensive description of computer networks and how they a standard PC, Macintosh and other workstations in a de can improve the efficiency of a nuclear medicine department. partment (I). It should also be possible to utilize many other Methods: This paper discusses various types of networks, network resources such as printers and plotters with the defines specific network terminology and discusses the im nuclear medicine computer systems. This article reviews the plementation of a computer network in a nuclear medicine technology of computer networking and describes the ad department. vantages and disadvantages of such a network currently in Results: A computer network can serve as a vital component of a nuclear medicine department, reducing the time ex use at Mayo Clinic. pended on menial tasks while allowing retrieval and transfer WHAT IS A NETWORK? ral of information. Conclusions: A computer network can revolutionize a stan A network is a way of connecting several computers to dard nuclear medicine department. However, the complexity gether so that they all have access to files, programs, printers and size of an individual department will determine if net and other services (collectively called resources). In com working will be cost-effective. puter jargon, such a collection of computers all located Key Words: Computer network, LAN, WAN, Ethernet, within a few thousand feet of each other is called a local area ARCnet, Token-Ring.
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