The dynamics and high growth potential of the PACS market never fail to inspire new participants. One of the latest to join the fray is Artesian Medical, which announced its entry as a systems integrator with a splashy booth at the November RSNA meeting.
Although Artesian was formed late last year by imaging equipment distributor Cassling Diagnostic Imaging, it does bring several years of experience to the PACS game. In its previous form as the networking division for Omaha, NE-based Cassling, Artesian claims to have installed more than 300 networks in the past six years, primarily in the Midwest.
In its early years, the networking division was a distributor for Cemax-Icon, selling systems to clients such as the University of Iowa, according to Artesian president Gary Sunsten, who previously served as a vice president at Cassling. About three years ago, Cassling broadened its portfolio by signing a relationship with Dutch PACS software developer Applicare Medical Imaging. Cassling won rights to sell Applicare's RadWorks product line, and is now an OEM client.
Seeking to expand operations beyond the Midwest, Cassling decided to form a new company to market its PACS and teleradiology capabilities, launching Artesian in October 2000. Since then Artesian has secured alliances with several PACS developers to support its growth plan.
"Our business philosophy is to provide best-of-class products as an integrator," Sunsten said. "We look at the customer's workflow and configure solutions based on what their needs are."
In November, Artesian announced a partnership with Inphact to provide application service provider (ASP) services. With the deal, Artesian will supply the on-site hardware and software needed for the ASP, while Nashville-based Inphact will provide off-site software and storage capacity. Inphact allows Artesian to offer an integrated radiology information system, off-site archiving, and Web distribution capabilities, according to Artesian.
In addition to Applicare’s RadWorks software, Artesian offers the Dutch company's RadStore archive product. Artesian also has relationships with FileLink (archiving), Fujifilm Medical Systems (computed radiography and dry printers), Rorke Data (advanced intelligent tape libraries and fiber-channel RAID devices), as well as Vidar Systems and Howtek (film digitizers). The firm also partners with workflow solutions provider medQ of Dallas.
Artesian has integrated IBM’s MedSpeak speech recognition engine into its workstation software, allowing applications to be controlled by voice, Sunsten said.
"Radiologists have told us that they don’t ever want to take their eyes off the screen, so we’ve now got applications running with voice recognition," he said.
In keeping with the firm's emphasis on flexibility, the company provides its services through a wide range of financing approaches, including ASP, leasing, and rental methods. Artesian has signed on four channel partners, including: Delta Medical Systems in Milwaukee; CMS Imaging in Charleston, SC; Freedom Imaging in Los Angeles; and Radon Imaging in Morgantown, WV.
Artesian is headquartered in Frisco, TX, where the management team, R&D, business operations, sales and marketing, and administration are based. Customer service and support will be offered from the company’s Omaha hub, where a 24-hour call center and full-service integration lab is housed. Before a system is installed, the Omaha lab builds it to the client's configuration and workflow specifications, testing it thoroughly before it's delivered to the customer, Sunsten said.
By Erik L. RidleyAuntMinnie.com staff writer
January 23, 2001
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Security, ASP, systems integration to highlight PACS exhibits, November 16, 2000
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