Kodak unveils new offerings at AHRA

Aug 2, 2004

BOSTON - Healthcare imaging and IT vendor Eastman Kodak Health Imaging introduced a collection of new product and service offerings at the American Healthcare Radiology Administrators (AHRA) annual conference this week.

The Rochester, NY-based firm revealed the latest version of its operating software for its CR and DR systems. Key capabilities of the new iteration include a security audit log that identifies users and imaging studies accessed, and an Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) scheduled workflow feature that provides real-time status of imaging exams to a HIS or RIS.

The scheduled workflow feature eliminates the need for technologists to manually enter status information at a HIS or RIS workstation. It also allows a CR or DR system to automatically notify the PACS and RIS when a procedure is completed, according to Kodak. The new version will be available for CR units worldwide this month and for DR systems later this year.

Kodak also unveiled its DirectView Capture Link system, which gives technologists the ability to identify and process CR cassettes, and review images at any linked CR system or DirectView remote operations panel.

Kodak also showed a new mammography CAD system as a work in progress. The system will be the firm’s first CAD product, with market introduction planned for the fourth quarter of this year, Kodak representatives said.

Clinical trial data submitted to the Food and Drug Administration state that 39.4% of missed breast cancers could have been detected 14.8 months earlier using CAD system, Kodak said. The product is currently undergoing a three-site trade trial in the U.S.

The company also exhibited another work in progress, a general-purpose medical imaging film the firm said can reduce radiation dose for patients by up to 50%.

In addition to new product and software technologies, Kodak showcased an expanded portfolio of professional-service offerings at the meeting.

The offerings include healthcare storage and archive services for the outsourcing of data storage, backup, and recovery services. Remote storage can be provided at a Kodak site or a remote customer-owned facility. Another service, healthcare enterprise information management services, takes isolated archives and consolidates all DICOM and non-DICOM information into a single archive for data availability throughout a healthcare enterprise, Kodak said.

The company also touted its healthcare integration services for the integration of PACS, RIS, RAID, and imaging modalities; its healthcare network services, which evaluate existing networks, identifies potential deficiencies, and then designs and implements a network to meet current and future needs; and its healthcare privacy and security services that help healthcare providers comply with regulations for the privacy and security of patient records.

Also highlighted were Kodak's healthcare project management services and healthcare educational services groups, which offer assessment, design, and implementation of new digital imaging systems and on-site and off-site training to facilitate an organization’s transition from analog to digital medical imaging.

Kodak also offers accessory services that permit facilities to streamline procurement for Kodak supplies and consumables, a software refresh program that provides automatic software updates for Kodak equipment, and a multivendor medical imaging equipment services product in which Kodak maintains a variety of medical imaging equipment.

Service products are available on a standalone basis or can be bundled according to customer needs, Kodak Professional Services representatives said.

By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
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