The Provincial Radiology Information System (RIS) and Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) Project phase two wrapped up in December 2010.

RIS and PACS enables hospitals and other publicly funded health care facilities in Manitoba to share diagnostic imaging (X-ray, CT, MRI and ultrasound) information, reports and images electronically, reducing the need for film in many diagnostic imaging (DI) areas.

RIS is a computerized information system that enables electronic scheduling, storage and organization of DI patient information as well as overall DI workflow, workload and billing data. RIS reduces the need for paper-based transactions. RIS provides patient demographic information to modalities (X-ray, CT, MRI and ultrasound devices) to ensure that images are associated with the correct patient in the PACS application.

PACS is a computerized system that stores X-rays and other diagnostic images, reducing the need for film and facilitating timely province-wide access to patient images and reports.

Over 50 health-care sites within Manitoba’s 11 regional health authorities received equipment, upgrades and training to help them transition to a filmless environment.

The Provincial RIS and PACS Project phase two leveraged existing RIS and PACS investments in the Brandon Regional Health Authority and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. The project is a joint initiative of Brandon Regional Health Authority, Diagnostic Services of Manitoba, Manitoba eHealth, Manitoba Health and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. Canada Health Infoway is a major funding partner of the project.

Learn more about the Provincial RIS and PACS Project:

• Benefits

Downloads

• Live sites
• Newsletter

Information for clinicians:

• Training
• For technical help with RIS and PACS, contact the Manitoba eHealth Service Desk:

Phone: (204) 940-8500 or toll free at 1-866-999-9698

 

Patient Benefits

• Improved health care provider access to a patient’s images and reports in the right place at the right time
• Reduced duplication of DI exams because prior images and results will be available electronically to help support health care providers in making diagnosis and treatment decisions

Clinical Benefits for Health Care Providers

• A provincially integrated RIS and PACS system eliminates the emphasis on where a test is performed because test results can be shared electronically with other facilities, making better use of diagnostic imaging resources
• Radiologists, referring physicians and clinicians will have access to a longitudinal (over time) view of a patient’s radiology history
• Health care providers will have timely access to a patient’s relevant prior images and reports
• Improved toolsets for radiologists, referring physicians, clinicians and orthopaedic surgeons that will allow them to do more with images than they could previously with film

Administrative Benefits

• Improved access to DI services
• Improved management of diagnostic resources and wait lists
• Increased productivity and more effective use of existing DI resources
• Improved work environments enhance the ability of DSM and regional health authorities to recruit and retain DI resources
• Reduced costs related to managing film and duplicating tests because of lack of access to relevant priors, or lost films
• Streamlined workflow, including patient registration, modality worklists, transcription, reporting and billing
• Improved regional reporting of procedures, workload units and other management information
• Electronic patient scheduling for exams and electronic scheduling of DI resources, such as radiologists and radiation technologists

Updated April 13, 2011