The Difference between Radiology PACS and Clinical PACS

Unlike hospital radiology, medical practices require rapid patient flow and response, demanding a completely different logic to access images. While other PACS vendors often re-brand third-party software created for radiologists, it is important to consider solutions designed to mirror how physicians practice medicine while in clinic.

Query vs. Sort

The difference between query and sort architecture illustrates an important difference between a system designed for clinics and one created for radiology. Physicians will quickly note the impact that this makes on rapidly handling patients in a busy clinic.

Radiology workflow

• Work list orientation
• Queue basis: First-in-First-out, FIFO
• Predictable: Same task for different patients
• Focus is diagnosis and report

 Clinical workflow

• Task list basis: requires immediate access
• Sort filters: drill down to specific studies
• Provides mobility between examination rooms and physician pods
• Instant tasks available: ex. Compare to previous studies; Templating
• Case flexibility: studies may be easily sorted