What is the difference between a DICOM viewer vs a PACS system or RIS

Question

I have installed OsiriX is my computer which is an open source DICOM viewer. I was wondering what would make this different from a PACS (Picture archiving and communication system) or RIS (Radiology Information System). How could OsiriX be incorporated into one of them?

Just trying to get a better understanding of this 3 apparently different but interrelated concepts.

Answer 1

The viewer is an application that allows you to look at images. The PACS is a server that stores the images (they often have an accompanying viewer). The RIS is a workflow/record system for scheduling the time for the scanners, managing appointments, storing reports, etc.

Answer 2

OsiriX have both options means - Storage and viewer basically called Osirix was PACS but stand alone. Every PACS has its own viewer now a days either server client basis or web viewer. Dicom work station was different and PACS viewer was different.

RIS was Radiology information System which contains Process of Radiology dept. Scan orders > scheduling > Generating Modality work list > scan reports > Modality reports > MIS reports > Billing (Optional) > Radiology reporting > Reports dispatch > Sending reports to PACS etc.
IT will communicate with PACS through HL7. PACS and RIS should be two different servers but some are available both in same then it wont suitable for bigger workflows.