What is imaging informatics

It has also had a significant impact in the area of radiology. Radiology has been an important aspect of the medical field for over years; however, many essential imaging techniques and components that medical professionals use today — including imaging informatics — have only been around for a few decades. Individuals who are interested in the collaboration between information management and radiology might be wondering what imaging informatics encompasses and how to become an imaging informaticist.

Earning a Bachelor of Science in Imaging Sciences is a great first step for those who want to pursue a career in the field. The specific goal of imaging informatics is to improve patient care by better managing imaging data and making it as accurate and accessible as possible. Imaging informatics is one element of the broader category of biomedical informatics sometimes just called health informatics.

As health information management systems become more complex, more categories of informatics are created. Imaging informatics was developed around the same time as electronic health records to improve the efficiency and reliability of medical services through the use of data.

Data mining from radiologic databases and computer-aided diagnostics work together to ensure the accuracy of medical imaging. The use of imaging informatics through computer information systems has applications across several areas of practice, including cardiology, surgery, obstetrics, and gynecology.

Professionals in imaging informatics can have varying job descriptions, depending on where they work. According to the U. In a medical setting, imaging technologists are responsible for performing X-ray, ultrasound, mammography, computed tomography CT , and magnetic resonance imaging MRI exams. With a secure transmission network, imaging informaticists view and manipulate the images before placing them in the picture archiving and communication system PACS.

They organize and store the images in a digital archive where the physician or technologist can easily and quickly access them again. Imaging informaticists can regularly communicate with members of the radiology department through the radiology information system RIS.

Virtually every healthcare clinical discipline depends on imaging informatics. This growing profession is being continually redefined. The value is clear: When clinicians have immediate electronic access to medical images, precious time is saved, allowing for timely medical decisions, reducing unnecessary repetition of exams and driving costs down. These benefits are so significant that in the United States the electronic management of health information, including images and their corresponding medical documentation, is becoming a government mandate.

Please try one of the following: If possible, update your Internet Explorer browser to a newer version If available, try a different browser, e. Chrome, Safari, Firefox Try another computer or mobile device. Forgot Login Info? Click to create a new account. About Informatics Across the world, the convergence of patient data, computer science applications and the expertise of health professionals has created a movement geared toward providing higher quality patient care through better management and availability of information.

The medical physicist is the person at the institution that has an understanding of the needs of medical imaging colleagues as well as the communications technology.

Consequently, the physicist must be part of any institutional decision regarding transmission and display of medical images. In addition, the physicist must also participate in decisions regarding the application of hospital and radiology information systems in the medical imaging department, and interfaces with the picture archiving and communications system PACS. The following Essential References provide good insight into medical informatics. In addition, many references are available on the internet.

The Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine SIIM website supplemental references provides excellent information regarding standards, professional activities, and meetings.