RIS system sales expected to increase

“Demand from healthcare IT customers reveals a distinct preference for RIS/PACS integration," remarks Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Mr. Ranjit Ravindranathan. “RIS sales in conjunction with PACS are, therefore, a major and growing segment of the RIS market", he added. New analysis from Frost & Sullivan reveals that the market earned revenues of $125.0 million in 2006 and estimates this to reach $181.0 million in 2013. While the benefits of RIS/PACS integration are many – improved clinical workflow, simplified work for technologists and reduced data inconsistencies that are common in manual data entry – the intrinsic differences in both systems is likely to make this a challenging task. RIS is a transaction-oriented system that deals with dynamic information for a limited storage volume, while PACS is oriented toward data access and the manipulation of large sets of fixed-content image data. RIS, PACS and hospital information systems (HIS) are interdependent systems, but are not compatible in terms of the interfaces they use. While HIS and RIS use health level seven (HL7), PACS uses digital imaging and communication in medicine (DICOM). Offering high-level interoperability of PACS with existing legacy systems such as RIS and HIS is one of the most complex aspects of PACS/RIS integration, which is only likely to become more complicated as the PACS market increasingly shifts from traditional hardware-software solutions to software-only products. “Providing a smooth administrative platform with interface with PACS and EMR will be critical in ensuring vendors' success," says Mr. Ravindranathan. “Providers capable of delivering solutions that exhibit these characteristics will be able to leverage their expertise to win prized contracts and to this end, will have to remain focused on product development." Overall, the market is set to experience steady growth due to large-scale investments in bundled product offerings and initiatives by governments of the various European countries. The market offers substantial opportunities for vendors providing customised solutions that easily interface with various modules in the workflow. European RIS Market, part of the Medical Imaging Growth Partnership Service program, provides an overview of market dynamics and revenues along with a complete analysis of key market drivers, restraints and trends faced in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Benelux, Spain and Scandinavia. This research service also offers strategic recommendations to address the main challenges facing the market.