Which system stores and shares medical images?

• A. PACS
• B. Administrative Applications
• C. HIPAA
• D. Bar Coding Technology

Answer: (A)

PACS, the Picture Archiving and Communication System, is the system designed to store, archive, retrieve, and share medical images. It digitally holds imaging studies from radiology and other departments and makes them accessible to authorized clinicians across the network, often through standard formats like DICOM that link images with patient records in the electronic health record. This setup enables rapid viewing, remote access, and easy distribution of images to different care teams.

Administrative Applications handle scheduling, billing, and patient demographics rather than imaging storage and sharing. HIPAA is the privacy and security regulation governing who can access protected health information, not a storage system itself. Bar coding Technology is used for tracking items, supplies, or patient information, and does not manage image storage or distribution.