There are many different types of medical imaging information systems, so it is impossible to use all the terms and abbreviations. The terminology in healthcare is endless, ranging from CIS, HIS, EMR, and EHR to RIS, DICOM, PACS, and cloud PACS. There are times when professional jargon is misunderstood, conflated, or misused in everyday communication. One example is the relatively new field of medical imaging. What’s the difference between CIS, HIS, and RIS? Could PACS exist without DICOM and vice versa? What are the similarities and differences between cloud PACS and regular PACS?
It Sounds Like What It Is, Doesn’t It?
Picture Archiving and Communications Systems (PACS) are medical imaging technologies developed to overcome the limitations of film-based systems. In addition, image retrieval and storage speeds are improved, and images may be accessed from a variety of web sites and formats. This has not only improved workflow efficiency, but has also improved diagnostics as a whole.
Images from medical imaging devices, such as CT, MRI, ultrasound, and radiography, are captured in PACS and converted to DICOM format before being transferred to a workstation where they can be reviewed. In addition, it usually includes tools to enhance workflow management, reporting, and 3D reconstruction.
Differentiating PACS From DICOM
Since these two are related, they can easily be mixed together. A DICOM image and related data file follows the DICOM standard. The web based PACS system facilitates the acquisition, storage, and retrieval of medical images and data by connecting the various hardware and software components.
Therefore, PACSYS is a system for storing, exchanging, and viewing medical records, while DICOM defines the communication language between these systems. Due to this, most medical software is DICOM-compatible, allowing users of different devices in different systems to share information without any issues.
Cloud-based PACS Has Many Advantages
With cloud-based PACS, storage and features are stored on the cloud. Cloud PACS vendors host and maintain your data. DICOM cloud storage and its security make it convenient to access medical imaging data anywhere with an internet connection.
As the computer network expands with a cloud-based PACS system, a wider range of devices can be used as display stations. Any HTML5-enabled device can access a cloud-based DICOM viewer.
In comparison with local PACS, cloud-based PACS has the following advantages:
- It is significantly more affordable to use a cloud-based PACS than a local one. The cloud PACS vendor charges a set price for storage, maintenance, and support. However, you can’t really predict how a traditional PACS will perform when it comes to upfront investment and maintenance.
PACS, EHRs, EMRs, RIS, and HIS: Relationships
Different types of medical record systems exist. Before we discuss how cloud PACS compare to these systems, let’s have a look at what they are:
- These terms refer to electronic health records and electronic medical records, respectively. The difference between an EHR and an EMR is that EHRs are more complex and may include EMRs. Contrary to EMRs, EHRs also include a patient’s medical history.
- Schedule, bill, and report exams using Radiology Information Systems (RIS). Pictures are managed by Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS). Radiology practices use both PACS and RIS simultaneously in their workflows because taking notes, viewing images, and writing reports are common tasks.