Patient Data Systems, Research Paper Example

The Patient-Data rich and PACS application systems are very useful approaches to managing patient data and related care in a positive and organized manner. These efforts are designed to improve upon patient care in a wide variety of settings, and are used widely to promote excellence in all areas of healthcare delivery and quality of care. To be specific, a PACS system, better known as a Picture Archiving and Communication System, serves as an opportunity to explore different alternatives with the use of radiologic and other picture-based images: “PACS main purpose is to replace hard film copies with digital images that can be used and seen by several different medical professionals and different medical automation systems simultaneously” (SearchHealthIT.com). This type of system is very useful in organizing the thousands of images that are obtained by different radiologic procedures that occur on a daily basis, and provide an efficient means for physicians to examine patient images with a new and convenient perspective (SearchHealthIT.com). This is also an important opportunity for department operations groups to explore new and efficient options for managing patient data through simple retrieval. With respect to IT departments, their role in implementing these types of systems is to implement these systems and to develop the appropriate backup mechanisms in the event that there are complications or difficulties that may lead to system breakdowns, so that all data is protected from being lost on a permanent basis. This is an important challenge for IT departments to manage, but it is feasible with the appropriate knowledge base and ongoing support from IT professionals in order to ensure ease of use at all times.

Radiology systems are of critical importance in today’s healthcare environments because so many images are taken and recorded in response to a wide variety of illnesses. These systems require the appropriate knowledge and skill set in order to be effective in their desired outcomes. This is a complex process that necessitates IT influence that is based upon system implementation and effective follow through in order for all data and images to remain intact, regardless of system failures. There are many benefits to these technologies, and they provide increased efficiency and convenience in record retrieval without hesitation. A comprehensive Radiology Information System (RIS) serves as an opportunity to explore different insights into radiology department roles and responsibilities in order to capture all possible requirements to promote patient well being through effective record-keeping. In general, a system of this nature is generally referred to as a PACS system, and is beneficial in the following ways: “With PACS, patient studies can be viewed from any computer at any of our facilities or from a referring physician’s office. PACS also allows the radiologists to read studies performed at any of our facilities, from any of our facilities, making them much more efficient and greatly reducing the turnaround time for report dictation” (Fresno.ucsf.edu). This is a positive step in advancing information technologies in hospital settings, and provides physicians with the tools that are necessary to support their objectives in providing excellence in patient care and related outcomes (Fresno.ucsf.edu). This process provides a level of efficiency and opportunity that is not available in traditional or old-fashioned systems that operate in these departments, and if designed properly, promotes convenience and efficiency at the desired level.

References

Fresno.ucsf.edu. Picture archive and communication system (PACS). Retrieved from http://www.fresno.ucsf.edu/housestaffportal/documents/Synapse_PACS.pdf

SearchHealthIT.com (2010). Definitions. Retrieved from http://searchhealthit.techtarget.com/definition/picture-archiving-and-communication-system-PACS