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RIS Radiology Information System PACS Picture Archiving and Communication System
At SAMI, the RIS is used for the management of our daily workload. The PACS is where all of our images are stored.
Below is the basics of the RIS that you may like to read prior to your SAMI placement.
Familiarising yourself with the look of our RIS, and some of it's basic functions, will make placement a little easier.
You will become more confident with the system the more you use it on Clinical Placement.
About RIS
A Radiology Information System (RIS) streamlines workflow within a Radiology Department by managing every step of a patient’s journey through order receipt, scheduling, registration, examination, documentation, dictation, transcription, report distribution, and billing.
Vue RIS, a workflow management solution, is designed to improve productivity, efficiency,
and information accuracy in diagnostic imaging departments, ultimately improving patient care. Below are some of the ways that RIS optimises the radiology workflow:
· Enables the Radiology Department to schedule and manage exams
· Facilitates dictation via voice recognition and transcription
· Provides capabilities for reporting and results distribution
· Captures signatures electronically
· Manages inventory levels
· Transmits exam data electronically
· Prints patient letters specific to various types of exams
· Enables mammography reporting
· Manages film tracking
· Enables integration into existing financial systems
About PACS
A Picture Archive & Communication System (PACS) is an image management system that allows
radiology departments and imaging clinics to store, retrieve, review, diagnose, and distribute large
volumes of medical images. PACS coupled with Vue RIS provides a fully integrated
PACS/RIS solution.
Vue RIS and Vue PACS together
The Philips unified solution of Vue RIS and Vue PACS provide all the tools you need to obtain optimal speed and efficiency with no compromise in data accuracy or patient care. The full solution automates diagnostic workflow and enables efficient creation, storage and distribution of the patient’s complete radiology record. It provides diagnostic quality review of exam images – complemented by display of patient information – so radiologists can quickly consult a patient's complete clinical status for
fast, accurate exam interpretations.
Patient statuses
The patient record is always associated with a status. The status lets you (and other personnel at your site) track the patient/exam through the workflow. The following is an example – you can have as many or as few statuses and workflows that make sense for your work area. As the patient moves through the workflow and changes statuses with each step, all information that anyone enters in RIS is only entered once. All information stays with the order, and accessible to you, throughout the workflow.
Status
Who might assign it?
What does it mean?
Scheduled
Scheduler / Receptionist
This status begins the patient journey through the Radiology Department. The patient has pre-scheduled the appointment, but has not yet arrived.
Arrived
Scheduler / Receptionist
The patient has arrived at the front desk. The front desk staff changes the status to Arrived and provides the patient with any necessary paperwork to complete before the exam. This status lets you capture your patient wait time.
In Progress
Radiographer
After the technologist has greeted the patient and begins the exam, she/he manually changes the status to In Progress.
Exam Done
Radiographer
After the technologist has completed the exam and finalised documentation of the exam on the screens and protocol tabs in RIS, the technologist changes the patient status to Exam Done. The patient is now ready for the radiologist to read the exam.
Sign 1 & Sign 2
Radiologist
After the radiologist has read and dictated the report, they sign the reporting in either a Sign 1 or Sign 2 status. Reports with a Sign 1 are not available to referrers on downstream systems (the radiologist may not have fully completed the report for example or is waiting on something), Sign 2 means the report is finished and should be fully available.
Rad/Tech role on RIS
Once a work section has been selected, the user will be presented with the current worklist for that area. RadTechs will see studies that are in an ‘Arrived’ or ‘In Progress’ status on the workflow.
Documentation
On this screen, RadTechs complete all information in regards the study. If required, they are able to change the performed procedure that has been done. The fields are self-explanatory here. The patients Medical Imaging history is displayed on the bottom of the screen.
From here we also have other tabs available where information is available on the patient, order, referring physicians and clinical history. Radiographers should also complete the ID/Pregnancy Check Tab from hereSome studies will also allow for information to be entered in regards any CT / MRI Protocols and radiation dose.
Once the RadTech has completed all the information, is happy with the imaging and that it has been sent to PACS successfully, then they can sign off the study. This is done by selecting ‘Complete’ in the bottom right of the screen.
If for some reason, the exam was not completed. We have the option to change the status to ‘Incomplete’. This is done by using the small arrow to side of Complete button.
Once complete the study will then leave the RadTech worklist and appear on the radiologists list to be reported. Incomplete reports will also disappear from the list.
