Development of a radiology operations system

Radiology departments increasingly use three primary systems to manage digital images and patient information: picture archiving and communications systems (PACS), radiology information systems (RIS), and hospital information systems (HIS). Departments must now begin to develop a strategy for integration of these systems to eliminate data redundancy and provide a common interface for users. The authors have interfaced RIS to a PACS based on a ACR-NEMA standards and to an order-entry/results-reporting HIS. The paper describes the experience of determining hardware and software links, determining common data standards, reorienting the radiology staff, and conforming with institutional computer standards