What radiology PACS software does
A Picture Archiving and Communication System is the working centre of a digital radiology department. It receives studies from imaging modalities, stores them with the correct patient and examination details, makes them available to authorised users, and gives radiologists the tools required to review and report them.
Good PACS software does more than preserve images. It connects the steps that happen around the images: registration, modality intake, worklist management, diagnostic reading, report preparation, verification, delivery and audit. When those steps are split between unrelated tools, staff spend time moving files, checking status manually and resolving duplicated patient records.
DICOM acquisition and storage
Receive CT, MRI, CR, DX, X-ray, ultrasound and mammography studies and keep them available through a controlled archive.
Diagnostic image review
Read studies with window and level controls, measurements, annotations, prior comparison, MPR, MIP and 3D reconstruction.
Worklists and reporting
Track pending and completed studies, use templates, dictate findings, verify reports and produce PDFs on the organisation's letterhead.
Secure clinical access
Provide appropriate access to radiologists, registration staff, typists and clinical users while retaining an attributable audit trail.
A connected workflow from modality to signed report
The PACS workflow begins when a modality sends a DICOM study. Patient and study information should remain consistent as the case enters the worklist. The radiologist then opens the study in the diagnostic viewer, reviews current and prior imaging, records findings, and signs the report. The referring team receives the final result without staff exporting images into an informal sharing process.
RDx PACS places reporting beside the viewer so the reader does not have to repeatedly switch applications. Templates support consistent structure, speech-to-text reduces routine typing, and AI-assisted drafts can help prepare report text for radiologist review. The radiologist remains responsible for editing, validation and final sign-off.
Diagnostic tools for everyday radiology
A PACS viewer needs to remain responsive throughout a real reporting day, including large CT and MRI examinations. RDx PACS uses a native desktop viewer on Windows and macOS for fast stack navigation, panning, zooming, windowing and comparison. It supports common diagnostic tools including distance, angle, region of interest, Hounsfield unit measurements, key images and persistent annotations.
Multiplanar reconstruction, maximum intensity projection and volume rendering support cross-sectional and vascular review. Hanging and prior-comparison workflows help reduce setup time when repeated or follow-up studies are available.
Hybrid PACS for local speed and remote radiology
Purely local PACS can be fast inside the facility but difficult to use for night reporting, leave coverage and distributed radiologists. A cloud-only workflow can provide reach but may make everyday reading dependent on internet performance. A hybrid PACS combines a local path for fast image access with secure remote availability for authorised readers.
This model allows an on-site radiologist and a remote radiologist to work from the same controlled study and reporting workflow. It also reduces reliance on exported ZIP files, consumer file-sharing links and duplicate archives. Read more about the hybrid and cloud PACS setup.
PACS software for different radiology organisations
Hospitals
Hospitals need modality connectivity, dependable local performance, department access and an organised on-call workflow. Role controls help separate diagnostic access from ward, OPD, registration and transcription needs. See the detailed hospital PACS workflow.
Diagnostic centres
Individual centres need a manageable system that supports registration, scanning, reporting, report delivery and remote reading without a large server project. The workflow must remain simple for front-desk staff while giving radiologists a full diagnostic environment. Explore PACS for diagnostic centres.
Diagnostic chains and teleradiology providers
Multi-branch organisations need separation between centres, central worklist visibility, assignment controls and turnaround tracking. Teleradiology providers also need client dashboards, radiologist worklists and consistent report delivery across many organisations. Review the workflows for diagnostic chains and teleradiology providers.
What to evaluate when choosing PACS software
- Viewer performance: Test representative CT, MRI and radiography studies on the actual workstations your radiologists use.
- Modality compatibility: Confirm DICOM connectivity, patient-data handling and the process for adding future modalities.
- Deployment model: Decide how local access, cloud storage, remote reading, backups and internet interruptions will be handled.
- Reporting workflow: Check templates, dictation, typist roles, verification, amendments, letterheads and report delivery.
- Access control: Ensure each user role receives only the studies and actions required for its work.
- Operational visibility: Review worklist status, turnaround tracking, assignment and audit capabilities.
- Implementation and support: Clarify modality setup, staff onboarding, data migration, response times and responsibility after go-live.
- Total cost: Include storage, workstations, remote seats, maintenance, support and expansion rather than comparing only the initial licence.
Implementation without a long server project
RDx PACS is designed for a light on-site footprint. A typical implementation begins with the organisation's modality mix, expected study volume, reading locations and staff roles. The setup is then configured around how the centre already works, followed by connectivity checks and onboarding using representative studies.
Published plans and add-ons are available on the PACS pricing page. Larger hospitals, chains and teleradiology providers can be configured around their branch count, reporting capacity, storage needs and access model.
See the PACS workflow on your own studies
Tell us your modalities, daily volume, reading locations and current reporting process. We can map a practical RDx PACS setup for your hospital, diagnostic centre or teleradiology team.
Discuss your PACS setup on WhatsAppFrequently asked questions
What does radiology PACS software do?
It receives and stores DICOM studies, makes them available through a diagnostic viewer, manages worklists and reporting, and controls how authorised users access images and reports.
Can PACS support both on-site and remote radiologists?
Yes. A hybrid setup keeps local reading fast while providing authorised remote radiologists with the same controlled worklist, viewer and reporting workflow.
Which imaging modalities can connect to PACS?
Standard DICOM modalities such as CT, MRI, CR, DX, X-ray, ultrasound and mammography can connect, subject to modality configuration and network access.
Does PACS include radiology reporting?
RDx PACS includes side-by-side reporting, templates, speech-to-text, report verification and final PDF output. AI-assisted drafts remain subject to radiologist review and approval.