Imaging Informatics

Imaging informatics (also known as radiology informatics, a component of wider medical or healthcare informatics) includes systems to transfer images and radiology data between radiologists, referring physicians, patients and the entire enterprise. This includes picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), wider enterprise image systems, radiology information. systems (RIS), connections to share data with the electronic medical record (EMR), and software to enable advanced visualization, reporting, artificial intelligence (AI) applications, analytics, exam ordering, clinical decision support, dictation, and remote image sharing and viewing systems.

Man vs. Machine artificial intelligence AI

Don’t depend on machine learning for diagnostic imaging support just yet, experts say

Radiologists should exercise caution when using artificial intelligence-aided CDS systems, as robust evidence is still lacking, researchers wrote in JAMA.

radiology reporting EHR health record CDS AUC

‘Epidemic’ of free-text entry holding back radiology’s efforts to reduce inappropriate imaging

Structured orders allow clinical decision support systems to root out unnecessary exams, but they run into a roadblock when docs try to freestyle. 

Hospital steers radiology patients elsewhere, switches to paper records following cyberattack

A staff radiologist recommended the redirect to ensure that no abnormalities were missed when analyzing high-definition images. 

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Radiologist logs 1.37 mouse miles and nearly 11,000 keystrokes during a single shift

The hefty totals underscore the need to simplify processes for physicians who are overburdened by complex PACS systems, imaging experts wrote in Radiology

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Radiology practice alerts state and customers after hackers target patient records

Sutter Buttes Imaging said that unauthorized individuals infiltrated its systems through an unspecified third-party IT infrastructure. 

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Radiology should consider ditching RVUs for a time-based productivity metric, study suggests

The current relative value unit system likely contributes to burnout because of its propensity to underestimate physicians' work effort, one expert wrote recently. 

lung cancer pulmonary nodule chest

Analysis finds significant variation in radiologists’ follow-up recommendations for lung nodules

Such unwarranted fluctuations could have downstream implications affecting repeat imaging, medical costs and quality, Brigham and Women's experts noted.

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Integrating patient image viewer with EHR portal produces nearly sevenfold increase in access

While many still use CDs for data sharing, one medical center is making tremendous strides with online access via its electronic health record.