PACS: What is and how it functions in conjunction with Radiology Information Systems (RIS)

 

If you’re in radiology, or any other health care field, you’ll encounter a lot of “shop chat” or medical jargon that may seem like an unfamiliar language for people who aren’t part of the medical community. Two terms that are familiar to many doctors and radiologists include PACS as well as RIS. This article explains the way PACS is linked to radiology and how PACS as well as a RIS (Radiology Information System) can be used in conjunction to benefit hospitalists, radiologists, and patients.

What is PACS?

Maybe you’ve been familiar with PACS but you’re not sure of what it means. Simply stated, PACS system is a picture communication and archiving system. The system stores digital reports and images, rather than the traditional method of filing manually film, retrieving, and transporting jackets, which are utilized to store X-ray films.

The Four Components that makeup PACS

The system is composed of four fundamental components comprising:

• Imaging modalities: This is the method used to perform scanning a person to create a medical picture.
• Secure connection to the database that allows images to upload and transfer
• Workstation to allow doctors and radiologists to view and examine the image
• Archives for storage — Another major aspect is a safe storage space where the image and its accompanying documents are accessible to all who are allowed to see it.

The benefits of combining PACS Software with RIS

Radiologists are particularly interested in the use of PACS software:

• Take a look at how radiology PACS are usually set up in conjunction with the radiology information system, or RIS.
• A radiology information system is an instrument used by radiologists to record patient radiology histories and also for scheduling appointments. The primary function of a PACS is to store as well as retrieve pictures.
• If PACS software is paired with a RIS, a hospital radiology department performs more efficiently because images can be safely stored to be retrieved, transferred, and stored.

Other Benefits

There are many other advantages of making use of PACS for radiology including:

• The patient’s data is more organized–Patient radiology records are kept in a more organized manner since they’re stored digitally. Instead of having to sort through piles of papers, doctors can access patient records by making use of the program.
• Better visualization of images–The various tools can provide enhanced visualization of images, as they can be altered electronically to allow visual expansion. For instance, images can be rotated to create 3D images of organs, tissues, blood vessels, and bones. This means that images can be read and better analyzed.
• The financial savings are a major benefit–There’s no requirement to print film. Cloud-based systems make it easy to access reports and images by using software that runs on digital devices. Also, you save money since you do not have to cover printing, film, or ink costs. Additionally, you don’t have to worry about paying a staff member for these services.

How Patients Can Benefit

There are also many advantages for patients:

• Patients will receive a more precise diagnosis because of high-quality images.
• One of the primary advantages for patients is less radiation exposure
• There’s no need to retake photographs.
• Exam time is cut down since patients don’t need to undergo a reexamination.
• Additionally, there’s less chance of side negative effects.

Other Benefits and Advantages:

• PACS can be used to save basic 2D images along with 3D images.
• It is possible to reduce the number of images with the same image which makes the management of data more effective.
• It gives an overview of the chronology of the history of radiology for a patient.
• With PACS surgeons can view images before bringing patients back to the exam room. Alongside improving the quality of care for patients it also improves the flow of work.
• PACS offers remote access. Doctors in remote physical regions can gain instant access to identical information for tele radiology.
• Hospitals also gain. The benefits include increased communication with doctors as well as better hospital administration. Another benefit is the fact that staff retention increases since morale in hospitals are higher.
• While radiologists were the primary users of PACS, PACS is now being integrated into various medical areas like pathology, cardiology, oncology dermatology, nuclear medicine, and imaging.