Certified Healthcare Technology Specialist (CHTS) Process Workflow & Information Management Redesign Practice Exam

What systems need to be integrated for a physician to review digital images from a CT scan at home?

1. Electronic Health Record and Picture Archiving System

2. Radiology Information System and Electronic Medical Record

3. Picture Archiving and Communication System and Radiology Information System

4. Laboratory Information System and Electronic Health Record

The correct answer is: Picture Archiving and Communication System and Radiology Information System

For a physician to review digital images from a CT scan at home, the integration of the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) and the Radiology Information System (RIS) is essential. PACS is specifically designed for storing, retrieving, and managing medical images such as those from CT scans. It allows healthcare professionals to access high-resolution images remotely, which is crucial for a physician working from home. On the other hand, the Radiology Information System is important for managing patient information related to radiology, including scheduling, billing, and workflow management. Together, PACS and RIS provide a comprehensive system that ensures physicians have immediate access to both medical images and relevant patient data, facilitating effective remote diagnosis and treatment planning. The other options do not adequately address the needs of a physician reviewing CT scan images specifically. The Electronic Health Record (EHR) and Electronic Medical Record (EMR) primarily focus on containing patient's medical history and treatment plans rather than managing medical images. While these systems are valuable for overall patient information, they lack the specialized functionality for image management that PACS provides. Therefore, option C is the most relevant pairing for enabling remote access to CT images.