Which term best describes a system used to share medical images?

• A. HIPAA
• B. Administrative Applications
• C. PACS
• D. Speech Recognition Software

Answer: (C)

Picture Archiving and Communication System, or PACS, is the system designed to store, retrieve, distribute, and display medical images electronically. It brings together images from X-ray, CT, MRI, and other modalities, letting clinicians view and share them across different workstations, departments, or locations. PACS uses the DICOM standard to keep image data and patient information interoperable, which is essential for seamless collaboration and quick access for diagnosis. It often integrates with radiology workflow systems like RIS and with electronic health records, enabling coordinated care. While HIPAA governs privacy and security of patient information, PACS is the tool that actually enables image sharing; the other options don’t provide the imaging storage and distribution capability.