A universal service for objects (e.g., DICOM objects) and method for processing the same are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises: receiving, at a web service engine, a web services request from a remote web client for one or more Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) objects; generating a DICOM Message Service Element (DIMSE) request from the web services request, wherein generating the DIMSE service request includes parsing a modified base URL that includes information for a DIMSE service request, the modified URL being compliant with a standard that specifies a web-based service for accessing and presenting DICOM objects; sending the DIMSE service request to a server; receiving a response to the DIMSE service request from the server; reformatting the response to be compliant with the standard that specifies a web-based service for accessing and presenting DICOM objects; and returning the reformatted response to the remote web client.