Medical Imaging Blog

radiology information system

How an Effective Radiology Information System Improves Efficiency

Radiology information system - RISA comprehensive radiology information system (RIS) can make a medical imaging workplace much more efficient.

That’s one of the conclusions of Ramin Khorasani, a radiologist from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, in a recent Journal of the American College of Radiology article.

Khorasani argues that articulating well thought-out imaging protocols can reduce unnecessary follow-up medical imaging by facilitating improvement in initial diagnoses. One key to good protocols, he says, is good IT – and that includes an RIS.

Khorasani makes a few specific recommendations for improving protocols:

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Seven Features Every RIS Must Have

RIS - Radiology information systemThese days, it’s almost impossible to imagine a medical imaging practice without a radiology information system (RIS). Unfortunately, it’s quite easy to imagine practices with a sub-standard RIS. Medical imaging practices should look for these seven features in an RIS before buying or upgrading one:

  • Pre-Loaded and Customizable Tables. No one in a radiology department has time to create all the tables the department needs, which is why an RIS should come with the most common tables pre-loaded. But it should also allow the department to easily manipulate basic templates to meet its unique needs. 
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Radiology Information System (RIS) Market to Reach $415.8 million by 2013

The future looks bright for diagnostic imaging.

According to a report from ReportLinker, worldwide diagnostic imaging and Radiology Information System (RIS) markets will reach $415.8 million by 2013. Moreover, as RIS systems are integrated with electronic patient records, market growth may be even stronger.

The ability to identify additional diseases at an earlier stage through diagnostic imaging will stimulate the demand for information management systems.

The report pinpoints key drivers of diagnostic imaging and radiology information system market growth, including:

  • Lower costs
  • Improved efficiency
  • Complete audit trails
  • Centralized patient information
  • Help to achieve HIPAA compliance
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Patients Demand Online Access to Radiology Results

Radiology Information Systems (RIS) have come a long way in streamlining tasks and providing 24/7 access to radiology results for physicians across an enterprise.

But results from a recent Wake Forest University School of Medicine study show there still may be one missing piece of the puzzle. According to the study, many patients are dissatisfied with the lack of detail in MRI, CT scan and ultrasound test results – as well as the amount of time it takes to receive results.

Patients in the study want online access to radiology results as soon as they are available to enable them to:

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PACS Adoption to Experience Significant Growth by 2015

Just what will the Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) market look like in five years?

A recent GlobalData report sheds light on the future growth and adoption of Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS). “US Picture Arching and Communication Systems (PACS) Market: Increasing Adoption to Drive Growth,” found that the market will:

  • Grow by 13% annually for the next seven years
  • Reach $2.5 billion in 2015, up from $1 billion in 2008

The report also found that PACS adoption will be driven by:

1. Small and mid-sized hospitals looking to cut costs and increase efficiency.

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Radiology Risk Management: Q&A With Dr. Jonathan B. Kruskal

Dr. Jonathan B. Kruskal

The advancement of medical imaging technologies, such as Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) and Radiology Information Systems (RIS), is contributing to a host of clinical advantages. At the top of that list of advantages are radiology risk management and improved safety – for patients and staff alike.

During the 2009 RSNA Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, Dr. Jonathan B. Kruskal shared insight on safety and risk management in radiology departments. We sat down with Dr. Kruskal, chairman of the Department of Radiology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, to learn how RIS can contribute to reduced errors.

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Benefits of Digital Mammography Proven in New Study

Benefits of digital mammographyFor facilities considering the purchase of a digital mammography solution, a newly released study sheds some light on the benefits of digital mammography. A study published in Radiology and supported by grants from the Health Ministry of Spain shows that digital mammography can reduce the adverse effects of breast cancer screening programs.

The study compared the recall rate, detection rate, false-positive rate and rates of invasive procedures in two groups of women: a screen-film mammography group and a digital mammography group.

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