PACS Administrator Certificate

College of Health Sciences

For more information, contact Joseph Grilli, DPA

Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) and Radiology Information Systems (RIS) are changing the way healthcare imaging services are provided. These systems are a growing challenge for hospital radiology department personnel and vendors. The imaging informatics profession and the PACS Administrator role have emerged to address these challenges.

PACS administration requires specific healthcare informatics skills and knowledge to best use this technology. The Misericordia PACS Administration certificate is a comprehensive guide to PACS systems and systems management, PACS architecture, image communication, PACS integration with other systems, and the impact of standards like DICOM. This program develops the essential skills and knowledge needed to plan, implement, maintain, and operate PACS and other imaging information systems. This certificate program helps prepare students for the Certified Imaging Informatics Professional (CIIP) certification exam.

This certificate program requires completion of 18 credits of specified coursework. This can be completed in as little as 3 semesters of 6 credits each. The following is a typical course sequence:

First Semester

• MIS 200 - Systems Analysis, and
• ITS 200 - Introduction to Information Technology Security

Second Semester

• MIS 220 - Applied Networking Design
• HCI 261 - PACS I

Third Semester

• MIS 432 - Database Management
• HCI 262 - PACS II

MIS, ITS, and HCI course descriptions can be found under their designated sections in the catalog.

The prospective student in this program will have significant current experience as a practicing medical imaging or radiologic technologist, or in a healthcare information technology field.

For the prospective student who is a practicing imaging or radiologic technologist, the following criteria are required for admission into this program:

1. be a graduate of an accredited Medical Imaging Program,
2. hold a current credential in one or more of the medical imaging specialties from a recognized national agency, and have a minimum of two years full-time experience as a practicing medical imaging technologist in a healthcare organization.
3. have at a minimum, a basic level of information systems expertise that may be demonstrated through prior completion of an introductory MIS course (MIS 110 or equivalent) or through an equivalent level of work experience as determined by healthcare informatics program director and the program director of the Information Technology major. The process would be a thorough review of the applicant's work experience. Students who are otherwise qualified for the program but lack a basic level of expertise in information systems as determined by the university will be required to first complete the MIS 110 course. This supports the intent of Society of Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIN) and the American Board of Imaging Informatics (ABII).

For the prospective student who is employed as an IT professional in a healthcare organization, the following criteria are required for admission into this program:

1. a minimum of 2 years current experience, preferably with a portion of that experience in connection with imaging or radiologic information systems,
2. a minimum of two-years education (48 semester credits) in an information technology program from an accredited program recognized by Misericordia.
3. an IT professional who is not employed by a healthcare organization or who does not have sufficient familiarity with healthcare in the United States may be required to take from 1 to 3 preparatory courses in the American healthcare system and healthcare informatics.
4. an IT professional who is not employed by a healthcare organization or who does not have sufficient familiarity with healthcare in the United States may be required to take from 1 to 3 preparatory courses in the American healthcare system and healthcare informatics.

Students with prior education in PACS, Medical Imaging, or Information Technology from an accredited post-secondary school recognized by Misericordia may transfer a maximum of three credits providing these are equivalent to one of the required courses for this certificate.

Admission is selective. Working adults must apply to the program through the University’s Director of Admissions, Expressway programs. Applicants must:

1. submit an application to the program,
2. arrange for official college and other medical imaging program transcripts to be sent to the university,
3. provide a copy of all professional credentials, such as a current ARRT card, and
4. submit a letter of interest with a professional resume.

Continuation in the certificate program requires that students maintain a minimum GPA of 2.30 in all of the PACS certificate courses. Medical imaging personnel must also maintain their professional certification. Students who fail to meet this GPA level will be placed on probation for the following semester only. Readmission may be granted one time, based on space availability, after the student meets the minimum program retention requirements. Students dismissed for ethical violations will not be considered for readmission.