ABSTRACT
While images are the most visible output from a radiology department into the wider clinical environment, text-based systems also play a vital role. Radiology information system (RIS) is the generic name for an application or group of applications used to handle the textual data related to imaging procedures, such as examination details, attendance lists, appointment diaries, reports, and billing data. Communication between the master patient index (MPI) and other text-based imaging informatics components is usually carried out using the HL7 standard. Falling under a variety of names depending on the software brand in place, the MPI is also commonly known as the hospital information system (HIS) or patient administration system (PAS). The electronic patient record (EPR) is a method of storing a patient's medical records and notes electronically rather than in bound paper bundles, which are difficult to search (and sometimes read).
