Bellaire Medical Center Selects Algotec

Advanced, Affordable PACS Meets Needs of Small Hospital

Bellaire Medical Center, a 240-bed hospital in Houston, Tx., has selected Algotec, the digital image management, processing and storage company, to provide a Web-based picture archiving and communications system (PACS). Algotec’s distributor, V-Rad Systems, was responsible for the sale.

“We wanted a full-featured Web-based system that would offer us all the advantages of digital communication, workflow and storage. But, like most small hospitals, Bellaire was concerned about making the most of its limited budget for digital conversion,” said Randall Stenoien, M.D., director of Innovative Radiology, which provides radiology services for the hospital. “Algotec was the only vendor we found willing to work with us to tailor a system to our needs and limited budget. With most vendors, the entry point to a PACS was well beyond the reach of a hospital our size. The Algotec system offered us full function at a fraction of the cost. It also had inherent upgradeability, to support our growth and expanding budget in the future. ”
The advanced Algotec system provides digital image management and storage within radiology and has a Web-based server for image communication over the hospital’s virtual private network. It also is used for on-call teleradiology and for remote communications with the practice’s sub-specialists.

“Innovative Radiology covers one hospital and two outpatient imaging centers and shortly will add an additional hospital,” explains Stenoien. “Our radiology sub-specialists, in particular, need to access images at all locations to provide timely specialized diagnoses. Algotec’s Web-based access engine allows them to view images from any location.”
All radiologists are extremely pleased with the system, which was installed on a tight schedule and has proven extremely reliable. Stenoien also notes that Algotec utilizes off-the-shelf hardware. By contrast, most other vendors use their own proprietary hardware, significantly boosting costs.

“The Algotec PACS has been of such value to the practice that we would recommend it to any hospital we service without hesitation,” says Stenoien, who believes that the existing Algotec PACS will pay for itself in less than two years in savings on film and related supplies.

About Algotec

Since 1993, Algotec has been a recognized leader in the medical imaging information management, processing, teleradiology and PACS arena. In 1997, Algotec was the first company to receive FDA clearance for a Web-based PACS viewer. In May 2002, Algotec signed a software license, development and distribution agreement with Eastman Kodak for distribution of Algotec’s technology on an OEM basis.
The company headquarters is in Israel with marketing and sales subsidiaries in the U.S., France and Germany. Algotec's products are used in more than 800 healthcare institutions worldwide. For more information about Algotec, call 770-291-2022 or visit its Website at www.algotec.com.

About V-Rad Systems

V-Rad Systems is a Houston-based company providing consulting services to hospital radiology departments and imaging centers, as well as integrating Algotec’s PACS software with cost-effective off-the-shelf hardware. For more information about V-Rad Systems, call 713-667-6056.