Digital Imaging & Informatics Basics
The transition to fully digital medical imaging primarily improved healthcare by doing what?
Allowing electronic acquisition, storage, and transmission of images
What is the primary function of the Radiology Information System (RIS)?
Manage scheduling, reports, and billing
Why is a high-speed network essential for PACS?
Image files are large and require rapid transfer
Why do digital radiography and digital mammography require large storage capacity?
Exams contain multiple large image files
The DICOM standard was developed primarily to do what?
Ensure compatibility between imaging systems
Which imaging modality first initiated the move toward digital imaging?
CT
PACS is primarily responsible for what?
Image acquisition, storage, and display
In a radiology network, what is a client?
Any device connected to the network
A major advantage of digital storage over film archives is what?
Immediate image access
Metadata in digital imaging refers to what?
Data about how the image was created
Why do radiographers need additional informatics knowledge today?
Digital workflows rely on accurate data management
What is not one of the four main components of PACS?
Electronic medical record
Teleradiology is defined as what?
Remote transmission and interpretation of images
Why is offsite or cloud-based backup storage important?
To protect against data loss
The DICOM header contains what type of information?
Image data descriptors and acquisition information
Which modality is not fully dependent on digital imaging systems?
All of them are!
The Electronic Medical Record (EMR) is created at what point?
At patient check-in
What is the sequence that correctly describes the digital imaging workflow?
Modality → PACS → RIS → EMR
One unintended consequence of PACS/RIS implementation has been:
Less direct interaction between radiographers and radiologists
What information is most likely entered manually by the radiographer?
Patient position, body part, correct laterality, accession number
The modern role of the radiographer includes what responsibility?
Managing digital images, metadata, and workflow
What is not a common use of the EMR?
Image acquisition
Prefetching improves workflow by doing what?
Automatically retrieving prior studies
High-bandwidth networks are most critical for what purpose?
Image transmission and display
Incorrect metadata can result in what problem?
Image loss or misidentification