Integration of New Software Applications Improves Productivity, Efficiency
Dubai, UAE, 16 February 2005 -- Kodak's Health Group, a business unit of Eastman Kodak Company, and a world leader in advanced healthcare products, services and information technology (IT) solutions for the medical and dental professions, announced at Arab Health 2005 its enhanced RIS/PACS suite which can dramatically improve radiologists' productivity while providing exceptional convenience for referring physicians.
Kodak's newest RIS/PACS (radiology information system/picture archiving and communications system) suite supports native applications such as 3D volume rendering so radiologists can easily interact with studies and their reconstructions on the same diagnostic workstation. This improves radiologists' productivity by avoiding the need to access a separate system. In addition, radiologists can benefit from faster, more convenient reading with the improved ability to customize and save their display protocols, based upon the current workstation image layout and functionality, so each type of imaging study is displayed according to their preferences.
Additionally, Kodak's RIS/PACS improves communication with referring physicians by enabling them to receive information in the way that is most efficient for their workflow. For example, the radiology report can be emailed or embedded into an electronic medical record and can include key marked images--with the option to view the entire imaging study via secure Web-based access if desired. Kodak's suite also enables referring physicians to order and schedule radiology exams, as well as view patient status and history.
"Kodak RIS/PACS suite made it easier for healthcare professionals to organize, report and update patient records. Now it is possible to access any medical imaging applications instantly, saving effort and time," commented Millan Alvarez-Miranda, Regional Business General Manager, Vice President, Kodak's Health Group Europe, Africa and Middle East region.
Radiologists Benefit from RIS/PACS Enhancements
Kodak's innovative RIS/PACS suite is ideal for meeting the needs of radiology departments, imaging centers, mammography providers and orthopaedic practices. Customer benefits provided by Kodak's suite include:
An improved graphic user interface that is easier to use, more intuitive and more productive.
Streamlined exam reporting capabilities that reduce dictation time and speed the delivery of final reports.
An advanced report search engine that provides easy access to related cases for conferences, teaching files, and other uses.
Improved diagnostic reading with new radiologist-defined display protocols and the ability to add electronic notes to imaging studies to enhance inter-department communication.
Ability to view 3D volume rendered reconstructions with associated imaging studies using a single workstation and with radiologists' preferred display protocols. MPR/MIP (multiplanar reconstruction/maximum intensity projection), tissue definition, and vessel tracking functionality are also embedded in Kodak's RIS/PACS suite.
Rapid access to other applications from the desktop by clicking a new configurable action button. Applications include ORTHOVIEW digital orthopaedic templates used to plan surgical procedures and CAD (computer-aided detection) programs that highlight suspicious areas in an image for further study.
Technology to help reduce the incidence of repetitive stress injuries--such as carpal tunnel syndrome--via an ergonomically designed hand controller for the new KODAK DIRECTVIEW Mammography Workstation. This new workstation is a component in the Mammography Upgrade for the KODAK PACS System 5 platform.
Support of the preferred operating environment for the healthcare facility's IT staff, since customers can choose either MICROSOFT WINDOWS or UNIX platforms.
Advantages of Kodak's Unique Storage Management Platform
Another advantage of Kodak's RIS/PACS suite is that it includes KODAK DIRECTVIEW Versatile Intelligent Patient Archive (VIParchive) software, which provides efficient, centralized control of PACS-related image and information storage. With Kodak RIS/PACS suite, customers have the unique ability to decide at any time to expand the capabilities of the VIParchive software platform to provide intelligent management of all types of images and information throughout a healthcare system. VIParchive software can manage a virtually unlimited number of DICOM and non-DICOM files and easily accommodates both existing and new storage devices and technologies.
"Better management of information across an organization equips healthcare providers to more efficiently handle the exponential growth of information being captured, stored and accessed," said L. Jeffrey Markin, General Manager of Healthcare Information Systems and Vice President, Kodak's Health Group. "Our VIParchive software also enables healthcare facilities to reduce the time and expense that is currently required to manage disparate storage systems for many individual departments."
Professional Services Deliver Real Value
To help organizations of all sizes benefit from its powerful RIS/PACS suite, Kodak offers a wide range of Professional Services that assist healthcare providers in evaluating, integrating and installing customized medical imaging and information management systems. Kodak's Professional Services portfolio offers proven workflow and change management techniques; data storage, backup and recovery services; network design and implementation; help in complying with stringent regulations for the privacy and security of patient records; consolidation and management of DICOM and non-DICOM information into a single virtual archive; and integration of new solutions with a customer's existing information management, network and storage systems to assure efficient access to patient medical images and information.
-Ends-
About Kodak's Health Group
Kodak's Health Group, with 2004 revenues of $2.68 billion, is a world leader in advanced healthcare products, services and information technology (IT) solutions for the medical and dental professions. Its broad product portfolio includes picture archiving and communications systems (PACS), radiology information systems (RIS), enterprise healthcare and clinical information systems, computed radiography (CR) and digital radiography (DR) systems, laser imagers, mammography systems, x-ray film systems for general radiography, and dental imaging products. Its broad services portfolio includes everything from repair and maintenance, to professional services encompassing equipment integration, business consulting, storage and archiving, secure e-mail services - and more.
The Health Group and Eastman Kodak Company's (NYSE: EK) other major businesses: Graphic Communications - offering on-demand color and black and white printing, wide-format inkjet printing, high-speed, high-volume continuous inkjet printing, as well as document scanning, archiving and multi-vendor IT services; Digital & Film Imaging Systems - providing consumers, professionals and cinematographers with digital and traditional products and services; and Display & Components - which designs and manufactures state-of-the-art organic light-emitting diode displays as well as other specialty materials, and delivers imaging sensors to original equipment manufacturers--together are committed to a digitally oriented growth strategy.
For more information:
Nivine William
Gambate Communications
(+971 4 391 6424)
nivine@gambate.biz
Sabina Bucciarelli
Kodak Health Group
(+39 02 6602 8706)
sabina.bucciarelli@kodak.com
www.kodak.com/go/health.
© Press Release 2005
