How to Link Images

LINKING OF IMAGES

• This process is done in the matching module and used to link prior images  to an existing order in INFINITT.  (Typically images imported from a different PACS system, CDs or send as DICOM images to the practice)
  • This is a manual process as part of the radiographer workflow.
  • The PACS system uses the unique patient ID created in the RIS as the unique code to link a patient’s images.
  • The linking process replaces the existing Patient ID on the images (regardless where the images has been done) with the Patient ID from INFINITT.  No other information will be replaced, eg. Institution, study date, etc.
  • Once LINKED, all linked images (Studies) are visible on the Enterprise Viewer and Universal Viewer as related studies to enable the Radiologist to compare prior and current studies.

HOW TO LINK studies

Using the link button (AUTO Link):

• Once the patient has been captured on INFINITT RIS – the RIS entry for the patient will be at the bottom of the Matching worklist (the linking process cannot be done if there are no RIS entries for the patient – you need the new (INFINITT) RIS entry to link the newly created Patient UID with the Old images).
• Launch the Matching worklist.

• Clear date range on top (if date limitation – not all old images will display).

• Make sure there is an * in the Pt ID field (to accommodate all different ‘previous’ UIDs for the prior images).   

• Make sure you select Unmatched patients (since old images will not be matched to current INFINITT RIS entry and will NEVER be matched (only linked to current studies).

• To search for the migrated/imported/prior images - search with the patient’s surname or part of the surname and/or with % between surname and first name.  For example: TEST%PV.

• Search with the DOB if available.

• In the bottom RIS search fields, search for the INFINITT RIS entry with the surname and DOB.
  • Click search.

• The study/images will be on top and the RIS entry at the bottom.
• Select the RIS entry at the bottom and tick the box in front of the corresponding pts old images on top (make sure it is the same patient by checking information on both the RIS entry and images).

• Click the LINK button

This action will replace the UID number of the old images with the new UID number of the INFINITT RIS and link the images automatically.

NOTE: If the patient has several previous studies to link to current INFINITT study, multiple images and be selected to link all at once.  BUT:   If the prior studies do not all have the same patient UID, you need to do it one by one.  This is a safety precaution to prevent you from linking wrong patients.