Question

Details of main methods (up to 3) that currently exist for interfacing HIS and RIS with PACS

Answer 1

1. Radiology, Information Systems (RIS) and Picture Archiving Systems (PACS), have the potential for immense rationalization of operations in radiology and hence for the improvement of health care, as well as the return of investments.

2. These systems must, however, be carefully designed such that they support routine work rather than being an additional burden to radiology staff. Analyses show that comprehensive communication of patient demographic and clinical data between RIS, PACS and Hospital Information Systems (HIS) are necessary prerequisites to achieve cost effectiveness.

3. Based on analyses of radiology operations in a large university primary care hospital, functional requirements and data structures for designing HIS/RIS/PACS interfaces are presented. These concern communication of past examinations, associated written reports and images, appointment scheduling, requests of new examinations, digitizing old analog X-ray films, access from RIS/PACS to other clinical data, and transfer of new radiology reports and relevant images.

4. Consistency of all redundant data stored in the three systems is essential. A pragmatic, safe and inexpensive method of electronically integrating "old" modalities not fully "PACS capable" in the HIS/RIS/PACS world is presented.

PACS has four main uses:

1. Hard copy replacement: PACS replaces hard-copy based means of managing medical images, such as film archives. With the decreasing price of digital storage, PACSen provide a growing cost and space advantage over film archives in addition to the instant access to prior images at the same institution. Digital copies are referred to as Soft-copy.

2. Remote access: It expands on the possibilities of conventional systems by providing capabilities of off-site viewing and reporting (distance education, telediagnosis). It enables practitioners in different physical locations to access the same information simultaneously for teleradiology.

3. Electronic image integration platform: PACS provides the electronic platform for radiology images interfacing with other medical automation systems such as Hospital Information System (HIS), Electronic Medical Record (EMR), Practice Management Software, and Radiology Information System (RIS).

4. Radiology Workflow Management: PACS is used by radiology personnel to manage the workflow of patient exams.