Technology Standards in Imaging: AÂ Practical Overview

Technology standards form the basis for clinical workflow in radiology. This article reviews 3 types of standards relevant for radiology: the DICOM standard for handling images; the Health Level 7 standard for communicating with the health care enterprise; and standards in coding and terminology such as International Classification of Diseases, Current Procedural Terminology, and RadLex. This third category has an impact on radiology reporting and practice management. Familiarity with all these standards can help radiologists optimize operations and plan for the future.