Pacs Ris Solutions To Enhance Imaging Workflow

Picture Archiving and Communication Systems commonly known as PACS , enable medical images such as x-rays and digital scans to be stored in a film-less environment and to be visualized on screens, so that healthcare providers can access the image and patient information across a network and compare it with previous images easily . It is used by physicians, hospitals, clinics and imaging centers to improve diagnostic methods and to achieve operational efficiency. PACS helps to automate, assemble and improve work-flow by providing instant access to patient information, images and other related documents.

What is PACS?
PACS is a software system that sits on a networked hardware infrastructure that includes servers, workstations and a connecting network. PACS enables medical images from modalities such as MRI, CT, X-Ray to be stored alongside patient identification data. PACS vendors tend to sell the software component of the system and integrators then provide
the necessary skills and consultancy services to install alongside hardware.

What is RIS?
Radiology Information Systems (RIS) are computerized systems for radiology departments to manage internal departmental processes. In order to organize the clinical work flow, the ideal management and integration of patient information is crucial. Radiology centres often deploy both PACS and RIS systems at the same time and a key determinant of their success is the integration of the two together such that RIS data and PACS data is presented and organized seamlessly.

The Use of PACS
The availability of previous medical images of a patient to a healthcare professional helps to improve decision making and subsequent diagnosis and it can also reduce the need for
additional testing. Moving from film to digital exams helps healthcare providers to improve efficiency, reduce errors, and it also eliminates the costs related to hard film processing and storage and saves valuable space currently used for storage. PACS enables healthcare professionals to access the right information at the right time in the right place and is intended to lead to more efficient patient diagnosis.  This is the criteria for many hospitals and doctors to decide to implement PACS.  Today, many healthcare providers worldwide offers PACS solutions that are used by hospitals and other imaging centers. The following are the major advantages of RIS/PACS

* Reduced number of duplicate images because of the electronically saved data.
* Quick and improved access to patient data
* Patient information can be transmitted over the web and hence it can be shared with any      number of healthcare experts
* Eliminates the costs associated with hard copy reports
* Reduced time as a result of paperless environment
* Speedier and more effective patient care
* Reduced turnaround time for report dictation

The Leading PACS Companies

Medical InsightA/S
Carestream Health, Inc.
DR Systems, Inc.
Merge Healthcare
NovaRad Corporation
PACSGEAR
RamSoft, Inc.
TeraRecon, Inc.
Sectra
INFINITT North America