With the bi-directional eHealth Image Exchange platform, GE is now integrating industry standards into VGR’s architecture. GE’s data registry and repository (DRR) services use the XDS standard profile developed by the Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise initiative (IHE). Authorized care team members can access patient data stored in the repository using any vendor’s system that supports the XDS standard, which increases the ease of access for clinicians and enhances clinical collaboration.
Extension of GE Healthcare Relationship Enhances Clinical Collaboration
Today, at the World of Health IT Congress in Budapest, Hungary, GE Healthcare IT announced an extension of its contract serving the 17 hospitals of Sweden’s Västra Götaland region (VGR) through 2015. GE Healthcare IT also announced it’s expanding and enhancing the solution through several new software applications, including the eHealth Image Exchange platform and Centricity* Enterprise Archive. This expanded access gives more patients the benefit of obtaining inputs from remote specialists and allows their care teams to seek second opinions seamlessly in order to create a more holistic patient care plan.
Since 2006, GE Healthcare IT’s BFR (Bild och funktionsregister) solution has supported multiple Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) and Radiology Information Systems (RIS) from different, competing companies. GE’s work with VGR reflects the company’s commitment to healthymagination which supports delivering health innovations focused on reducing costs, increasing access and improving quality around the world.
With the bi-directional eHealth Image Exchange platform, GE is now integrating industry standards into VGR’s architecture. GE’s data registry and repository (DRR) services use the XDS standard profile developed by the Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise initiative (IHE). Authorized care team members can access patient data stored in the repository using any vendor’s system that supports the XDS standard, which increases the ease of access for clinicians and enhances clinical collaboration.
“One of the reasons we chose to expand with GE is the flexible, standards-based eHealth Image Exchange platform. Providing the best care possible today and into the future requires a robust platform and an organization like GE, which focuses on driving innovation and new technology,” says Lars Lindsköld, BFR System Owner.
The GE contract expansion also includes the introduction of Centricity Enterprise Archive’s Information Lifecycle Management (ILM) application. The ILM enables VGR to implement a standard archiving process across all 17 hospitals, which will allow VGR to make more cost effective use of the service’s “storage cloud.” This centralised management allows one-step control of variables such as storage period, image compression ratio and management of tiered storage.
“VGR is a leader in connecting care teams across a wide region to provide better healthcare for all citizens, which is the future of healthcare,” says Bernard Algayres, General Manager of GE Healthcare IT eHealth, EMEA. “At VGR, it’s not a future defined by industry pundits but the real here-and-now, enabled by GE Healthcare IT solutions. Moving to this next phase of the BFR system project offers the promise of better of care at lower costs for the citizens of Southwestern Sweden.”
ABOUT GE HEALTHCARE:
GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services that are shaping a new age of patient care. Our broad expertise in medical imaging and information technologies, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring systems, drug discovery, biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies, performance improvement and performance solutions services help our customers to deliver better care to more people around the world at a lower cost. In addition, we partner with healthcare leaders, striving to leverage the global policy change necessary to implement a successful shift to sustainable healthcare systems.
Our “healthymagination” vision for the future invites the world to join us on our journey as we continuously develop innovations focused on reducing costs, increasing access and improving quality around the world. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, GE Healthcare is a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE). Worldwide, GE Healthcare employees are committed to serving healthcare professionals and their patients in more than 100 countries. For more information about GE Healthcare, visit our website at www.gehealthcare.com.
