All termsSystems
RIS
A Radiology Information System — manages the radiology department's workflow: orders, scheduling, worklists, technologist tracking, and reporting.
When to use it
Use a RIS wherever radiology orders are received, scheduled, and tracked, and where reports originate before reaching the EMR.
In plain terms
The department's operations desk: it knows who is scheduled, what is ordered, and where each exam is in its lifecycle.
Common gotchas
- The RIS often bridges the HL7 (orders/results) and DICOM (worklist/MPPS) worlds — it sits on both sides.
- Many products are sold as "RIS/PACS", but integration-wise they are still distinct roles.
- Report sign-off in the RIS is usually what triggers the ORU back to the EMR.