Flexible Next-Generation PACS Technology Suited for the Academic Replacement Market

By implementing a new next-generation picture archiving and communication system (PACS), radiologists, surgeons, and other caregivers now have faster and easier access to all medical images, from multi-slice computed tomography (CT) to ultrasound.

McKesson Corp. (San Francisco, CA, USA) recently reported that the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System (VCU; Richmond, VA, USA) has implemented McKesson's Horizon Medical Imaging PACS. The Horizon Medical Imaging will provide VCU caregivers with improved workflow capabilities to analyze, distribute, and store medical images and information across the organization, helping to improve patient care.

"McKesson has demonstrated a level of flexibility and capability that continues to meet our needs and expectations, starting with the selection process to our current use of the system,” said Dr. Ann Fulcher, chairman of radiology, VCU. "With the McKesson PACS, we are continuing our tradition of providing our staff and patients with the latest technologies to meet today's standards of care. At the same time, we are preparing them for the future and for changes in the way healthcare will be delivered.”

McKesson's seamless integration with VCU's existing database of images is enabling the institution to avoid the expensive process of converting data to a new backend platform. A "disruption-free” implementation ensured that VCU was able to perform "business as usual” during the installation. The radiology group enjoyed the usability of features such as a true, unified work list, clinical series mapping, and adaptive image loading, all of which led to greater user adoption.

Moreover, the McKesson system helps enhance the U.S. National Patient Safety Goals and improves report turnaround time to referring physicians through intelligent workflow considerations. These include image analysis capabilities, integrated three-dimensional (3D) images, reporting and communication tools from a single radiologist cockpit. As a result, radiologists no longer need to move from one workstation to another to complete studies involving advanced visualization and analysis.

By replacing its legacy PACS with the new system, VCU has established the foundation for a new healthcare technology platform to meet the demands of its expanding academic medical center. "Leading academic centers such as VCU were early adopters of digital imaging technology,” said Rod O'Reilly, vice president and general manager of McKesson's Medical Imaging Group. "These centers realize that a modality-based workflow will not transform the way they deliver healthcare, and they are looking for robust IT [information technology] solutions to solve their enterprise imaging needs. McKesson is proud that VCU and other academic centers are turning to us as their information technology partner.”

The VCU contract also includes licensing for McKesson's Horizon Optical Imaging system, a unique optical imaging product that enables clinicians to take an analog optical device, such as an endoscope, and turn it into a fully Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine- (DICOM)-enabled digital modality to enable digital capture of still and cine images. Image storage, archiving, and viewing is supported by the Horizon Medical Imaging system.

VCU is the largest university in Virginia and ranks among the top 100 universities in the United States in sponsored research.

McKesson is a healthcare services and information technology company that provides pharmaceutical and medical-surgical supply management across the spectrum of care; healthcare information technology for hospitals, physicians, homecare and payors; hospital and retail pharmacy automation; and services for manufacturers and payors designed to improve outcomes for patients.

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