We describe the design, development, and use of a web portal by Radiologists at the University of Maryland School of Medicine for research and teaching. This portal, developed using Open Source software, provides centralized, integrated access to both Radiology Information System (RIS) and Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) information. The major features of this system are (i) realtime extraction of Radiology report information from the IDXRAD RIS, (ii) automatic indexing of the report text, (iii) fast, simple, easy to use, web-based query of the report text, (iv) integrating the reports with images from the AGFA PACS, and (v) enabling each Radiologist to create their own collection of interesting cases for teaching and research. A discussion of steps taken to maintain patient confidentiality and control access to this information is included.

Corresponding Author: George J Grevera - Philadelphia, PA USA