Interfacing a radiology information system and a picture archiving and communication system

In some medical imaging (MI) departments two information systems have developed in parallel, a radiology information management system (RIMS) and a picture archiving and communication system (PACS). A connection between the two applications is required to adequately support the medical imaging process and is vital to a completely digital MI department. The RIMS-PACS interface will provide the mechanism for single-point access to all of the information required by a radiologist for a diagnosis. The authors describe the results of the analysis of the two systems and outline possibilities for their interconnection. The high-level design of the RIMS-PACS interface as reported will satisfy the clinical users´ need for single-point access to the data required for clinical radiology. It overcomes the obstacles presented by the low connectivity of the two applications. The complexity of the analysis required to design the interface highlights the need for more strategic planning before information systems are implemented