HIS RIS PACS: Workflow, Integrations, Definitions, and Differences

PACS RIS HIS are key systems that give healthcare providers convenient access to important patient information when necessary. For hospitals seeking to improve their clinical decision-making and the quality of patient care they deliver, integrating these systems for a smart HIS RIS PACS workflow should take precedence on their to-do list.

In this blog, we discuss PACS RIS HIS integration and the key functions of each system. Join us as we discuss how they work together to produce efficient radiology and healthcare workflows when integrated.

What is RIS?

A radiology information system (RIS) is used for the electronic management of imaging departments. Some of the main functions of a RIS include patient scheduling, reporting, results distribution, and procedure billing. RIS plays an important role in creating an efficient workflow for radiology departments.

RIS HL7 Explained

Health Level Seven (HL7®) is an internationally accepted industry standard for exchanging information between medical information systems such as PACS, RIS, and HIS. HL7 provides guidance on how to implement its standard to promote interoperability in healthcare IT. The HL7 committee compiled a collection of message formats and related clinical standards that loosely define an ideal presentation of clinical information. Together, the standards provide a framework in which data may be exchanged.

RIS and most HIS follow HL7 – HL7 allows for different HIS networks to exchange data between and among themselves. It also allows HIS radiology to identify patients, process orders, and store reports. Conforming to the HL7 standard creates a HIS RIS PACS workflow which strengthens the exchange and shareability of healthcare information between PACS RIS HIS.

What is HIS?

A hospital information system (HIS) is a comprehensive information system that manages various aspects of a hospital’s operation including medical, administrative, financial, and legal issues. By managing the data of the departments and aspects throughout a hospital, users gain quick access to information related to their patients. A HIS improves information integrity, reduces transcription errors, and prevents the duplication of information entries.

Evaluating RIS vs HIS

So, what are the differences between RIS vs HIS? In short, HIS is the system that handles patient management across the healthcare system while RIS handles the electronic management of imaging departments.

HIS maintains electronic medical records (EMR) of a patient, which improves patient care by recording patient’s vitals and treatment. RIS is used by radiologists to edit and report the radiology diagnosis. HIS interfaces with RIS by communicating through an application layer HL7.

What is PACS?

A picture archiving and communication system (PACS) is a medical imaging technology used to transfer, store, display, and access medical images from various modalities such as X-Ray, CT, MRI, etc. As PACS facilitates the electronic transmission of images and reports, it eliminates the need for the physical transport and retrieval of traditional film. 

PACS Integration

PACS integration with other radiology and medical systems improves patient outcomes and promotes more efficient, uniform healthcare workflows. Some of the systems that PACS integrates with include:

• Radiology Information System (RIS)
• Hospital Information System (HIS)
• Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
• Electronic Health Record (EHR)
• Laboratory Information Management System (LIS)

A RIS is most often selected as one of the main systems to be part of a PACS integration and workflow. Using an integrated RIS/PACS in a hospital radiology department substantially cuts the time needed for completion of X-ray examinations, resulting in reductions on the order of 35% to 52%. When using an integrated RIS/PACS, radiologists can access the necessary images and information quickly to properly interpret an exam.

HIS RIS PACS Workflow

Data, even if it’s only related to a single person, is often stored in different systems throughout a hospital. Integration between PACS RIS HIS is critical to allow radiologists to quickly access patent information, regardless of where that information resides.

Achieving an optimal HIS RIS PACS workflow has the potential to provide organizations substantial cost and productivity benefits related to the delivery of diagnostic imaging services. It also acts as a single point of access for images.

By integrating PACS RIS HIS, hospitals can improve their operations and workflow by unlocking:

• A more complete patient record
• Increased consistency, accuracy, and availability of information
• Automation of mundane and error-prone activities
• Reduced data entry errors
• Lower costs
• Increased quality of care
• Better outcomes

HIS RIS PACS integration enables the automation of value-added functions including data store and forward, record linking, database synchronization, worklists and scheduling, and more.

A HIS RIS PACS workflow and integration would allow information to flow seamlessly and bolster efficient patient care, specifically for imaging encounters. Manual data entry errors would be reduced as data only needs to be entered once. Additionally, staff would no longer need to spend time identifying and correcting errors among the various systems and modalities.

Want to learn more?

As we discussed, integration of HIS RIS PACS is important. But consolidation is where you can now get the most advanced – and OmegaAI is the solution to do so. Learn more about how OmegaAI can help orchestrate workflows from all three systems (and beyond).