Overview
With more than 50 members, many of whom are programmers and application support professionals, Cleveland Clinic has one of the largest Imaging Informatics sections in the country.
The section’s “enterprise-wide” view of radiology links all Cleveland Clinic facilities, ensuring that imaging performed at a location convenient to a patient’s home or workplace will be accessible at any Cleveland Clinic hospital, family health center or other outpatient facility. Images obtained at non-Cleveland Clinic facilities and placed on a disc can be transported or sent to Cleveland Clinic for viewing.
Services
The section is committed to aligning patients with the appropriate diagnostic imaging technologies for their needs at the locations most accessible to them. Whenever possible, it coordinates patients’ imaging appointments with their visits to physicians.
Imaging Informatics is responsible for implementing, supporting and enhancing systems that the Imaging Institute utilizes not only in clinical practice, but in research and education as well. Examples include the Radiology Information System (RIS) and Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) that connect all Cleveland Clinic facilities, speech recognition systems, teaching systems and enterprise image distribution systems. Research projects addressing performance improvement are a significant component of the section’s mission.
Education
The section views education as a priority, and members participate in training activities for groups ranging from imaging informatics professionals to radiology residents to clinicians desiring to improve their computer skills. Education focused on specific applications is designed to maximize imaging outcomes.
Leadership
Imaging Informatics is actively involved in advancing the management of imaging information systems through industry collaboration and national organizations such as the Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine, Radiological Society of North America and American College of Radiology.
