As PACS proliferates to small and mid-size community hospitals, new companies are springing up to help meet the demands of this growing market. One new entrant is Quick Study Radiology (QSR), a systems integrator that debuted at the 2001 RSNA meeting in Chicago.
Benefiting from technology partnerships with ALI Technologies, MedeSys, RealTimeImage, IDX Systems, and others, St. Louis-based QSR is betting on its new integrated approach to PACS/RIS to win customers among its target market of community hospitals under 300 beds.
"There are 4,000 of these hospitals in the U.S.," said Dr. Skip Sallee, founder, president, and CEO. "We're distributing an integrated PACS, RIS, Web distribution, billing, and archive solution to those hospitals because the big constraints facing those hospitals are lack of capital. And even if they have the money, they don't have the IT resources to install and maintain those departments and those services."
QSR offers a per-use pricing model to avoid the need for up-front capital expenditures. The firm guarantees that no additional IT resources will be required to install, use, or maintain its services, Sallee said. Sallee co-founded teleradiology services provider Teleradiology Associates in 1991, and was also founding president and CEO of Team Health Radiology Services. QSR was formed in May 2000.
The vendor's product offerings include PACS technology from Canadian firm ALI, a radiology information system from MedeSys, Web distribution software from RealTimeImage, and a billing offering that includes a coding module from CodeRyte and billing software from IDX. QSR can also provide computed radiography systems from Agfa HealthCare and Eastman Kodak, which also can be included in the per-use price.
Onsite storage is provided for 8 to 12 months utilizing RAID with redundant storage capabilities provided via a Xio Tech storage area network (SAN) archive located at QSR headquarters, Sallee said. After the onsite storage period, older studies are stored via the SAN and a StorageTek archive hosted by QSR. QSR will install and maintain a T1 connection between QSR and the hospital, as well as a HIPAA-compliant network for data transfer and storage, according to the vendor.
QSR will provide necessary systems integration with hospital information systems, as well as training. A 24-hour help desk is available seven days a week, and the firm's network operations center continuously monitors system performance remotely, Sallee said.
QSR has five beta sites, all of which are converting to paying customers. The firm is currently selling its services through a direct sales force, but is also evaluating additional distribution channels, Sallee said.
QSR raised $8 million in funding in May 2000, and has commitments for a second round of $8 million in 2002, he said. The investment syndicate was led by Schroder Venture Life Sciences, and also includes investments from venture capital funds Medical Imaging Innovation & Investments (MI3), A.G. Edwards Capital, Capital for Business, Gateway Ventures, and Oakwood Medical Investors.
By Erik L. RidleyAuntMinnie.com staff writer
January 11, 2002
Copyright © 2002 AuntMinnie.com
