Imaging informatics: lead, follow, or become irrelevant.

Despite the impressive technical acumen of the medical imaging industry, when one looks at the demands soon to be set upon us, radiology informatics is in its infancy. Over the past 20 years, imaging informatics systems, focusing on optimizing departmental efficiency and productivity, have been deployed at amazing rates [1]. However, as we advance toward a new era of government-influenced, interconnected, patient-centric health care, our maturing monolithic systems must be challenged if radiologists are to maintain their clinical significance. In this article, we describe the technologies that have, and will, become essential to maintain and improve our clinically relevant role in today’s evolving care process.