1. A distributed medical scanner/workstation platform comprising: a first repository; a second repository; and a host on which is running an application, the host being coupled to the first and second repositories and the application being capable of communication with each of the first and second repositories, wherein the application is in communication with each of the first and second repositories by way of an API framework, wherein the API framework allows the application to communicate with each of the first and second repositories as if both repositories were identical, and wherein the API framework includes a plurality of commands concerning generic communication operations between the application and any of the repositories.