Basics of imaging informatics: Part 1

Imaging informatics is a distinct subspecialty of radiology that endeavors to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and reliability of radiologic services within the medical enterprise. Although picture archiving and communication systems ( PACS) are a major focus of imaging informatics, there are many other ways in which technology can improve the efficiency of individual radiologists and of the entire department. Understanding informatics principles is important because these principles affect major purchase decisions, not only for PACS but also for other supporting software and for modalities themselves. This review, which is the first of two parts, will focus on PACS and its parts and on supporting software for PACS. (c) RSNA, 2007.