Radiologic Technology Informatics

Vocabulary flashcards covering core concepts, standards, workflows, and terminology in radiologic technology informatics.

Interoperability

The ability of different systems to exchange and use information effectively in healthcare informatics.

DICOM

A standard whose main purpose is to standardize the handling and exchange of medical images and related data.

HL7

A standard commonly used in healthcare systems for exchanging clinical and administrative information, such as patient demographics and orders.

Modality Worklist (MWL)

A tool that provides scheduled patient and examination details directly to imaging equipment before an exam.

Patient Information Reconciliation (PIR)

A process designed to resolve patient identity or demographic mismatches associated with imaging records.

IHE Scheduled Workflow (SWF)

An integration profile that helps coordinate steps from imaging order and scheduling through image acquisition and related reporting.

IHE Cross-Enterprise Document Sharing (XDS)

An integration profile with the goal of supporting the sharing of patient documents across different healthcare organizations.

Data Silo

Information that is kept isolated within a single system or department and remains difficult to share.

PACS

Picture Archiving and Communication System; a system with key functions of storing, retrieving, and displaying digital medical images.

Radiologist

The professional primarily responsible for interpreting diagnostic medical images and issuing the radiology report.

Report Turnaround Time (RAT)

A performance metric that measures the time elapsed from a defined point in the workflow until the radiology report is completed or available.

TCP/IP

A foundational pair of internet and network communication protocols used to connect networked devices.

IHE

An initiative that promotes interoperability by defining coordinated ways to use existing healthcare standards.

Typical Imaging Examination Workflow

The standard sequence of steps: order/scheduling, image acquisition, image review/interpretation, and report.

Secure, Standardized Communication

A mechanism that enables healthcare systems to exchange information reliably while protecting sensitive patient data.