Electronic records make it easier, quicker to connect specialists, physicians to critical diagnostic information
St. Mark’s Hospital has now gone digital with installation of its new, state-of-the-art $4 million patient record system and infrastructure upgrade that digitally acquires, stores and retrieves diagnostic images. The innovative Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS), called CentricityŽ, was acquired recently from GE Healthcare.
PACS allows hospitals to digitize medical images and process them for interpretation by a radiologist physician in a fraction of the time it takes to process film. The images can be viewed by radiologists via a PACS workstation anywhere in the hospital. Patient images and radiologist’s reports also can be distributed on-demand through the Internet for referring physicians to review.
“Our new PACS system brings St. Mark’s Hospital further into the digital age of healthcare,” says Steven B. Bateman, chief executive officer of St. Mark’s. “The computerization of patient records mirrors the way medical image technology is advancing, helping our team stay at the forefront of patient care while making it easier to connect specialists and physicians to the critical diagnostic information they need.”
The advanced technology replaces the traditional film process for producing images and creates images, such as those from X-rays, CT or MRI exams, directly on electronic plates. Image files are then stored on magnetic discs and can be retrieved on command and viewed digitally, helping physicians make decisions and begin patient treatment more quickly.
For patients, the technology results in faster patient exams, since doctors can review the images right away with no lag time for developing film. The digital images can be viewed on the network or sent anywhere in the world for review. In addition to decreased waiting time for patients, the new technology includes electronic tools that assist in detailed analysis.
“The ability to view diagnostic images quickly on our computer network brings critical information to physicians at the point where they are making decisions and administering care,” says David Gatesman, direct of radiology. “Now, there’s no more chasing around for films or records. The CT or MR image needed is just a click away, helping us to provide better care for our patients.”
St. Mark’s Hospital is part of the MountainStar family of hospitals that operates eight hospitals in Utah and Idaho, including: Ogden Regional Medical Center, Lakeview Hospital in Bountiful, Timpanogos Regional Hospital in Orem, Mountain View Hospital in Payson, Brigham City Community Hospital, Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, and West Valley Medical Center in Caldwell, ID. MountainStar also owns and manages a number of outpatient surgical and imaging centers.
GE Healthcare’s expertise in medical imaging and information technologies, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring and life support systems, disease research, drug discovery, and biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies helps physicians detect disease earlier and tailor personalized treatments for their patients. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, GE Healthcare is a $15 billion unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE).