Which standard is used for the transport of medical images?

The standard used for the transport of medical images is DICOM, which stands for Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine. DICOM is crucial in the medical field as it provides a standardized method for handling, storing, transmitting, and displaying medical imaging data. It ensures interoperability among various imaging systems and devices, thereby facilitating the exchange of images and related information across different healthcare institutions.

DICOM encompasses protocols that are essential for processing and transmitting images generated by modalities such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans, allowing them to be shared across platforms without loss of quality or context. This standard not only applies to image data but also encompasses associated patient information, which is critical for maintaining clarity and coherence in patient records.

The other standards mentioned serve different purposes; for instance, HIE (Health Information Exchange) is more focused on the electronic sharing of healthcare information among different organizations. HL7 (Health Level 7) deals primarily with the exchange of clinical and administrative data between healthcare applications, while ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision) is a coding system used for classifying diseases and health conditions rather than managing image transport. Therefore, the use of DICOM is specifically aligned with the needs of medical imaging, making it the correct