The Importance of Information Technology in Radiology

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In the March/April issue of ITN, you will find a strong focus on information technology as we continue to track its continuous evolution in the field of radiology and radiation oncology. To start, our cover story, part of ITN’s ongoing “One on One” series with industry trailblazers and leaders, focuses on Hal Wolf, FHIMSS, president and CEO of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). We talked in-depth about key topics from HIMSS24, the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on this industry, and Wolf also shared his thoughts on the extremely important topic of healthcare sustainability. You can read the article here. Be sure to follow ITN’s continuous coverage of HIMSS24 at itnonline.com and through social media, and stay engaged with our our exclusive HIMSS24 Online Photo Gallery.

Because picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) play such an important role in the industry — with the critical need to safely store and archive medical images, the ITN team is offering extended coverage of the PACS comparison chart here and here to provide a current, accurate overview of many PACS key players. The full version of this chart can be found, customized and downloaded at www.itnonline.com/chart/pacs-systems.

While the focus is on the emergence of cloud-based PACS in this issue, there are so many more emerging and innovative developments that we’re seeing. Among them:

1. Integration with Electronic Health Records (EHR): This integration ensures that medical images are directly linked to patient records, providing a comprehensive view of a patient’s health information.

2. Advanced Visualization and Analysis Tools: This includes 3D rendering, multi-planar reconstruction and quantitative analysis, which aid in diagnosis and treatment planning.

3. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Integration: AI can help improve efficiency and accuracy in diagnosing medical conditions.

4. Mobile Access and Teleradiology: Teleradiology, enabled by PACS, enables remote interpretation of medical images, facilitating collaboration and expanding access to radiological expertise.

5. Cybersecurity Measures: With the increasing digitization of medical data, there is a heightened focus on cybersecurity within PACS systems.

6. Interoperability Standards: Standardization enables seamless communication and sharing of medical images and information across different healthcare systems.

7. Vendor-Neutral Archives (VNA): VNA solutions are gaining popularity as they allow healthcare organizations to store and manage medical images in a format-independent manner.

These trends collectively contribute to the evolution of PACS, enhancing their capabilities in improving patient care and streamlining radiology workflows.