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University College Dublin

Radiology Information Systems & Picture Archiving & Communication Systems

Graduate Certificate Radiology Information Systems & Picture Archiving and Communications Systems

Course Features
- Designed by experts in the field with input from RSMs, vendors, IT, radiography and administration professionals.
- Course unique to Ireland and UK at graduate level.
- Caters for new and evolving clinical specialty.
- Accommodates professionals in full time employment through flexible course delivery.

Course Overview
Radiology Information Systems and Picture Archiving and Communications Systems are a fast developing aspect of medicine. These systems offer more efficient information management for data and images. They are increasingly relied upon for clinical conferences, and imaging terminals are now to be found in all locations within the hospital. The management of these systems is essential to ensure that their benefits are maximised and that patient data is controlled in a legislatively compliant manner.

Who Should Take This Course?
The course is targeted towards:
- Radiographers
- Radiation therapists
- ICT professionals
- Personnel working with in or around the radiology information systems and picture archiving and communications systems of imaging departments

What Will I Learn?
Course Description
Management of radiology information systems / picture archiving communication and communication systems (RIS/PACS) is essential to ensure that the benefits of both systems are maximised and to further ensure that patient data is controlled in a responsible and legislatively compliant way.

The first module acts as a primer for the system administration level of operation. It delivers advanced information on modern image acquisition, storage and display systems in radiology. RIS/PACS administration is explored, including current regulatory requirements. The second module aims to build on the RIS/PACS frontline skillsets, to develop specialised knowledge and understanding of the RIS/PACS manager role and to prepare the student for overall system management.

This will cover skill sets required through an entire project lifecycle from initial specification, system procurement, implementation & go-live management, service level agreement management and active staff & documentation management. The final module aims to build on the RIS/PACS I & II skill sets to apply specialised knowledge and understanding in a practical clinical context. It is particularly developed to infer professional competence in RIS/PACS administration in both an overall system management role and a frontline support role.

Entry requirements

Am I Eligible For This Course?
Entry criteria
- Candidates should possess an appropriate undergraduate degree qualification.
- Radiographers, radiation therapists must have a BSc Radiography, radiation therapy, therapeutic radiography, Diploma of the College of Radiographers (London) or equivalent and have access to a clinical site with RIS PACS system.
- ICT professionals must have a primary degree in ICT and experience of working in the subject area and have access to a clinical site with RIS PACS system.
- Candidates must have system administrator level access to a clinical RIS/PACS system and provide documented evidence supporting this.

International Applicants
Essential Requirements
International applicants must:
Hold a BSc (Honours) or equivalent in Diagnostic Radiography.
Have attained a minimum score of 7.0 in IELTS (a minimum of 6 in each band) or 600 in TOEFL (250+ computer-based; 100+ iTB score; with test of written English at 475+). All test results must be less than 2 years old. This is necessary to ensure that prospective students can manage the programme's academic workload and communicate effectively within the clinical placement environment.

Have system administrator level access to a clinical RIS/PACS system and provide documented evidence supporting this.
Provide a clinical reference contact to support your commitment to and ability to undertake this course.

A list of FAQs for international applicants is available online.

Information on studying at UCD as international students is available online.

Duration

2 years part-time.

How/Where Do I Learn?
This programme is delivered in three modules.
All on campus days (UCD Belfield) are 09:00-17:00.

Further enquiries

Academic Programme Director
Mr. John Stowe
School of Medicine
Health Sciences Centre
UCD Belfield
Dublin 4
T: + 353 1 716 6539
E: john.stowe@ucd.ie

Programme Administrator
Diagnostic Imaging Programme Office
Health Sciences Centre
UCD Belfield
Dublin 4
T: + 353 1 716 6545
F: + 353 1 716 6547
E: graduate.imaging@ucd.ie

Subjects taught

Modules
The programme comprises three 10 credit modules: RIS / PACS 1, 2 and 3.

RIS PACS 1
This module seeks to impart the information required to be familiar with the technology and justification of a Radiology Information System and a Picture Archiving and Communication System in a diagnostic imaging department. This module is of particular relevance to radiographers, radiation therapists, IT professionals and RIS/PACS personnel. It is taught over six days and incorporates HITS. HITS (Health Informatics Training System) is an IT certification programme for healthcare workers. The HITS Level 1 syllabus gives a basic understanding of health informatics and is suitable for anyone working in the healthcare industry, at any level. The course is delivered online, where candidates can also access study aids including quizzes and a sample test. The course is self study, approximately 20 hours study time is required. On completion candidates sit an online test in a supervised test environment. The test is of 45 minutes duration and comprises 40 knowledge-based multi-choice questions. A pass mark of 75% is required to attain the certificate, which is issued by ICS SKILLS.

RIS PACS 2
UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science is pleased to offer a module designed for professionals working with or aspiring to work with RIS / PACS facilities in the hospital environment. This module provides an appropriate theoretical background for radiographers, radiation therapists, IT professionals and PACS personnel working within or around the RIS / PACS of an Imaging department. The module has been approved in UCD and is worth 10 European Credit Transfer points at Masters level. This module is of particular relevance to radiographers, radiation therapists, IT professionals and RIS/PACS personnel. This module is taught over six days.

RIS PACS 3
This will be a 10 credit, level 4 module. The course entry requirements are an appropriate undergraduate degree qualification or equivalent. This module is of particular relevance to radiographers, radiation therapists, IT professionals and RIS/PACS personnel particularly those that have undergone RIS PACS I and II. This module aims to build on the RIS/PACS System Administrator skill sets to develop specialised knowledge and understanding of the RIS/PACS manager role to practically prepare the student for the overall system management role as opposed to a frontline support role.

This will cover skill sets required through an entire project lifecycle from initial specification, system procurement, implementation & go-live management, Service level Agreement management and finally active staff & documentation management. The module will particularly focus on the clinical skills associated with the practice of RIS PACS Management.

Full details on course webpage (url below)

Comment

This programme is delivered in three consecutive modules.
All on campus days (UCD Belfield) are 09:00-17:00.

Application date

Click on the www.ucd.ie/apply link and follow the steps outlined.
The "Application Type" is Graduate Taught Courses in Health Sciences.

Fill in your personal details, and when asked about the "Programme Choice", select Grad Cert Radiology InfoSys & Pic Archiving & CommSys MgmtPT (X392).

Having paid the application fee online and having received an e-mail receipt, you must continue to complete the application process by pressing "submit". An e-mail confirming successful application will be sent to you within 24 hours. A detailed, step-by step guide to the online application process is available at www.ucd.ie/apply.

Your application will not be considered until all the requested documentation has been received. You must submit the required documentation AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. If your application is incomplete at the time of assessment, it may be invalidated & you may not be considered.

You can track the status of your documentation online. Log in to your account & click on your submitted application. This will bring up an application summary. The application requirements are listed at the bottom of the summary. As we receive documents, the date of receipt will appear here.

If you have any problems or queries with the online application process, email: applications@ucd.ie or telephone: + 353 1 716 1142 or 1476.