code: def get_ss_value(tag):
      
      # data is int formatted as string so convert te string first and cast to int
      if tag.VR == 'OB' or tag.VR == 'UN':
          value = struct.unpack('h', tag.value)[0]
          return value
      return tag.value
docs: Getters for data that also work with implicit transfersyntax
  
      :param tag: the tag to read