How are mappings applied?

Group mappings are a way of grouping studies with common attributes such that searching, prefetching, and routing can be based on those attributes. What follows is a high-level overview of how such mappings are applied.

1. Mapping codes are defined based on the types of exam descriptions used at the site.

2. The system administrator sets up the mappings in the Administration Tools’ Specialty, Body Part, and Patient Location managers.

3. When the technologist performs an exam, the study is given a basic exam description.

   The basic exam description is a word or set of words that qualifies the study, such as modality, body part, exam type, and location of the procedure.

4. When the study enters the IMPAX system, the Network Gateway parses the description looking for text that matches any defined source mapping patterns.

5. If any matches are found, the study is mapped to the appropriate group.

   For example, if the study description includes the text CHEST, 1 VIEW, it might be mapped to the Body Part “chest” or the Specialty “cardiology” (or both).

6. If routing or relevant prior rules based on these mappings are set up, studies are then routed or prefetched based on them.