Radiology Info Systems

Radiology Info Systems

Although I do not personally use PACS I have learned it has many advantages. For one, PACS allows the whole radiology department to be able to view and store images from CT, MRI, Ultrasound, radiography, PET and more. All the current images a radiologist or technologist needs are all in one place. Since imaging studies are in one place it is easier to find and review patient studies faster. PACS is user friendly for radiologist because it gives them a worklist of studies to view. This is a very organized way for doctors to know what needs to be done and to avoid the possibility of missing any studies. A useful tool is once radiologists start a dictation on a particular study, fellow radiologists can avoid doing repeat dictations because PACS removes current dictated studies from the worklist. This saves time, energy and allows for more images to be reviewed. Another excellent option when using PACS is the option of add on functionalities. PACS allows for radiologists to over-read residents and fellows reading and dictations of studies and provide feedback through PACS. PACS even allows Peer Review so radiologists and their radiologist colleagues can review each other’s work and provide feedback. PACS has many advantages but also some disadvantages. To start, if everyone who uses PACS is not a super user there will be many times when technologist will have to seek out help from the PACS admin to solve their issues. This puts a delay in technologists current work schedule. Again, I have not used PACS myself but it also seems like mistakes can happen while using the system a lot such as studies being placed under the wrong name. The fact that studies cannot be seen through PACS let’s say from state to state, is a disadvantage because patients may have scans or x-rays from another hospital and the only way to get those records is by reaching out to other facilities or having patients get the copies themselves. This could put a delay on current diagnoses. It would be helpful if there was a way to view all PACS, more so if you are a radiologist and have the clearance to do so. PACS alone is not enough for the radiologists and technologists to have all they need in a system. PACS depends on other software to increase its usefulness and value.