A PACS / Communications Technology Company
(Since 1989)
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PC
CONSULTANT GROUP, INC. A PACS / Communications Technology Company (Since 1989) |
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PACS & RIS, A
practical outline
PACS/ RIS System objectives:
Quick PACS Definitions |
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| Quick Definitions | |
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PACS
[Source: NEMA] |
Picture Archiving and Communication Systems. A PACS offers: (a) picture
viewing at diagnostic, reporting, consultation and remote workstations,
(b) archiving on magnetic or optical media using short or long-term
storage devices, (c) communications using local or wide area networks or
public communications services, and (d) systems that include modality
interfaces and gateways to healthcare facility and departmental
information systems offering one integrated system to the user. |
| Enterprise- PACS |
Enterprise PACS: Refers to an automatically controlled
PACS system whereby images coming from usually multiple modalities often
at multiple locations are directed between Diagnostic viewing
stations and archive servers (short, mid-term and
long-term). An Enterprise PACS system also requires a RIS
component that tracks imaging and patient care elements from initial appointment
through the complete imaging, diagnostic and administrative process.
The greatest emphasis needs to be placed upon automation as
opposed to manual components which is the key element differentiating
Enterprise vs. Mini-PACS.
(see PIC below) |
| Mini-PACS |
Simply, Mini-PACS is a minimalist version of Enterprise-PACS. A
Mini-PACS environment includes a manual as opposed to
automated archive and image tracking mechanism. In the Mini-PACS
environment an administrator will typically manually assign
images to a Diagnostic reading station and move images onto a long-term
archive as desired and necessary. While most Mini-PACS
environments do not have a RIS component that is not always true.
Also, most mini-PACS systems are single site environments with one or two
modalities and viewing stations. |
| DICOM |
Digital Imaging and
COmmunications in Medicine. The DICOM Standard is a
set of rules that allow medical images to be exchanged between
instruments, computers, and hospitals. It establishes a common language
that guarantees a medical image produced on one vendor's machine will be
displayable on the workstation from another vendor. The DICOM Standard has
evolved over the past years in a long series of meetings between software
engineers from all major imaging and computer companies (representing the
National Electrical Manufacturers' Association, NEMA) and physician
representatives from major professional societies, such as the American
College of Radiology, the American Society of Echocardiography, and the
American College of Cardiology. |
| Teleradiology |
The process of sending radiology images from one point to
another through digital, computer assisted transmission, typically over
standard telephone lines, satellite connections or over a local area
network (LAN). These images can be retrieved from imaging modalities
directly, by digitizing films, or digitizing video signals. They may
transported directly, or through imaging gateways, and sent to a variety
of medical imaging modalities, such a archives, display stations, and
print spooling devices. Teleradiology is also now coming to include the
interfacing with HIS/RIS systems in the process of transporting digital
images. |
| Tele-medicine |
The process of using telecommunications to enhance to performance of
medicine. The use of information technology to deliver medical services
and information from one location to another. A superset of teleradiology,
may include information systems, teleconferencing and other technologies. |
| RIS - Radiology Information System |
Information systems, usually computer-assisted, designed to
store, manipulate, and retrieve information for planning, organizing,
directing, and controlling administrative activities associated with the
provision and utilization of radiology services and facilities.
Common system components include scheduling, dictation, dictation report distribution( via e-mail and/or fax). Modern systems include LAN components as well as Web enabled functions allowing for Internet scheduling, dictation report and image viewing. |
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