PACS RIS Maintenance

The Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences (RAD&IS) provides imaging services to the CC patients who participate in research protocols conducted by the various NIH institutes.  Imaging services include X-rays, fluoroscopy, mammography, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, computed tomography (CT) scans and interventional radiology (special procedures).  Diagnostic services in ultrasound, digital mammography, positron emission tomography/computed tomography  (PET/CT), and nuclear medicine are also provided. All these diagnostic modalities generate clinical diagnostic images that are sent to and archived on the RAD&IS’s Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS).   The departmental radiologists review the diagnostic images and dictate clinical findings using a Voice Recognition system (VRS).  The findings are saved in reports which are stored in the RAD&IS’s Radiology Information System (RIS) and forwarded to the Clinical Research Information System or the Clinical Center’s Hospital Information System (CRIS).

The PACS and RIS are integrated critical patient care systems in daily use by RAD&IS and the Clinical Center.  They support the care of clinical patients at the NIH.  They are also the heart of the RAD&IS.  The RIS provides workflow and connection services for RAD&IS.  The RIS controls the patient information data flow between the CRIS, the medical scanners and the PACS. The PACS provides both medical image viewing and reporting services to radiologists, researchers, patients and referring physicians.  The operation and capabilities of these software systems are absolutely critical to the NIH CC mission for quality patient care.

Philips Healthcare (formally Carestream Health Inc.) is the manufacturer, developer and licensor of both the CC PACS and RIS software.