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Department
of Veterans Affairs Partners with Edmonds Scientific
in Move to Filmless Environment
FAIRFAX,
VA - The Veterans Affairs Healthcare
Network, Upstate New York (VISN-2)
recently selected Edmond Scientific Company
(ESC) to provide a Departmental Workflow Analysis
and a Return on Investment Performance Metrics
(ROI) Analysis as part of VISN-2’s
strategy to implement an enhanced filmless radiology
service (PACS) across the network to support
a comprehensive electronic medical record of
its patients.
A Picture Archiving and Communication System
(PACS) is a technologically
advanced healthcare IT application designed
to facilitate the effective and efficient acquisition,
archival, interpretation and dissemination of
radiological images within a health enterprise.
This allows images to be distributed electronically
and interpreted on computer workstations, thereby
eliminating waiting periods for film images
to be processed, analyzed or delivered.
ESC
will conduct a Department Workflow Analysis
for all VISN-2 medical facilities. This process
will document current radiology work flow procedures
and practices from image requisition through
acquisition to final interpretation. The data
obtained will provide the basis for identifying
the necessary IT resources, data integration,
and the workflow or business process changes
that will be needed to achieve cost reductions
as the VISN moves forward to a filmless environment.
The
Return on Investment (ROI) Performance Analysis
is a two phased comparative study.
The first phase defines the cost structures
and productivity levels associated with the
VISN’s current radiology technology and
workflow. The second phase will project the
new cost structure and productivity gains associated
with a PACS enterprise implementation. Baseline
operational indicators will be established to
measure and qualify these outcomes and benefits
on an ongoing basis as the VISN moves forward
in implementing its strategic plan.
ESC,
a veteran-owned company, has developed extensive
experience in healthcare and health informatics
consulting, developing and managing complex
software development and IT programs/projects,
portfolio/risk management for information systems,
and integrating workflow and document management
systems. This includes legacy radiological image
conversion to DICOM standards, and integrating
applications to conform to DICOM
and HL7 communication protocols.
This experience allows the VA to benefit from
ESC’s expertise and disciplined approach
to providing services in accordance with strict
performance standards.
For
further information about this project or ESC
please contact Ken Bodenheimer at 703.766.3871
ex. 250, or email: kbodenheimer@edmondsci.com
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