Notebook 12

PACS:

PACS stands for picture archiving and communication system where all healthcare personnel can send
and receive information about patients. It consists of digital acquisition, display workstations, and
storage devices interconnected through a network. It has short-term storage and long-term storage. The
short-term storage is an online unit that receives files directly from imaging modality. It has fast access
to images for up to 12-15 months. Long-term storage is where images are stored for stored for around
two years, making a more permanent storage. PACS is the accuracy of the interface between the specific
modality system, electronic medical record in the hospital information system and radiology information
system.

HIS:

HIS stands for hospital information system which is a common system where medical records and data
are held in a hospital.

RIS:

RIS stands for radiology information system which is a common system where all radiographs and their
information are held in a hospital.

DICOM:

DICOM stands for digital imaging and communication in medicine. It is system used for exchanging
medical images among the modality, viewing stations, and the archive. DICOM is a commonality
between all healthcare facilities.

Flow of digital images:

1. Technologist receives order through electronic worklist or paper.

2. Patient identification

3. Order input to RIS and then is sent to PACS to find all past images and are put into short-term archive.

4. Technologist prepares room, retrieves patient, and gets patient history. History is then recorded
electronically into patients medical record.

5. Technologist performs exam, images are processed and sent to appropriate PACS device. Patient
images are tagged with information from RIS for the use of past images and reports are available when
new images are sent. A compact CD can also be used of the physician does not have immediate access
to electronic images.

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6. The requisition is taken to radiologist or pulled from the electronic worklist and new images are
compared with old images and reports.

7. Radiologist then dictates a report and transcribes it or uses voice recognition to record the reading.
When they use voice recognition software the report can be reviewed after dictation and make
corrections then sign it and finalize it. The result is stored in DICOM for all healthcare facilities to access
when necessary.

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 References

1. Carter, C. E., & L., V. B. (2014). Digital radiography and PACS. Maryland Heights, MO:
Elsevier/Mosby.
2. When PACS Pushes the Limit - Image Storage: The Basics. Retrieved April 28, 2017, from
http://www.healthimaging.com/topics/imaging-informatics/when-pacs-pushes-limit-image-
storage-basics

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