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Jeanne-Marie
Phillips ALGOTEC INTRODUCES ASP PACS MODEL AT HIMMS 2000Dallas, April 9 - Algotec Systems, Ltd., the innovative Picture Archiving and Communications Technology (PACS) and radiology image processing company, introduces an Application Service Provider (ASP) model for pay-per-use PACS at the Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) meeting in Dallas. “ASP gives healthcare enterprises with even limited budgets the opportunity to take advantage of all the benefits of PACS and filmless radiology without the high up-front costs of system purchase,” said Charles Armstrong, General Manager of Algotec, Inc., the company’s U.S. subsidiary. “In fact, by switching to PACS and eliminating film, radiology operating budgets can be typically reduced by 20 percent or more.” Other benefits of outsourcing clinical image management include eliminating the inevitable future obsolescence of a purchased system, as well as increasing a department’s or clinic’s productivity by automatically sending studies to the workstations where they can be handled in the most timely and efficient manner. Time spent developing and transporting film to referring physicians and appropriate hospital departments also is eliminated, facilitating more rapid diagnosis and better patient care. At the heart of Algotec’s ASP model is Web technology and existing Internet and intranet connections. In 1997, Algotec was the first company to obtain FDA clearance for Web based clinical image distribution. Currently, the company has over 120 installations worldwide. Web-and Internet-based PACS offer numerous advantages over proprietary networking, and Algotec brings several years of experience to the design of its ASP system. Using a standard Web browser and Internet or intranet connections, Algotec’s Web technology turns any PC into an image viewing station. All necessary image viewing and processing tools are sent along with the study through JAVA. No application software is required on the end-user’s PC. As part of its ASP program, Algotec creates for each client a website to serve as the focal point of communications within and outside the enterprise. Studies performed at the client’s facility are sent over the Internet or private networks to the central data warehouse, which may reside at the customer’s or Algotec’s facilities. A participating facility as well as any authorized off-premises user can then access the study through the facility’s website using a browser. Off-premises users might include referring physicians, specialists in remote locations, off-site on-call radiologists or any authorized user with a PC and Internet access. Also enhancing ASP PACS performance is Algotec’s advanced work flow management software that automates pre-fetching and routing of studies with Internet push technology, creates worklists and more. To ensure complete reliability and enable communications with the central site, Algotec will install its “Infomediary Box” back-up system at all ASP client locations. The box includes storage for about one month of data. Should a system failure occur, the department will remain up and running as this on-site technology takes over. For routine use, recent data will be routed from the on-site server, if more efficient. “Because Algotec has been in the Web-based PACS arena from the beginning, its Web-based ASP service offers a number of unique advanced features,” says Armstrong. “First and foremost, we offer full image fidelity over the Internet--most companies do not. Our adaptive compression algorithms allow files to be decompressed with the full detail of the original image. This allows manipulation of images with sophisticated processing tools by doctors at any location.” Additionally, Armstrong points out that the system has advanced automatic routing as well as automatic e-mailing of reports with thumbnail images to referring physicians. “An ASP relationship is not a sale. It’s a partnership,” says Armstrong. “We will work with a client to customize a system and to take advantage of any PACS components already in place. The more committed we are to meeting clients needs, the more they will use our technology. It’s a simple win-win situation.” Algotec, Inc. is based in Duluth Ga, 770-291-2022. Visit their website at www.algotec.com . |