NorthEast Medical Center in Concord, N.C., has made a significant purchase of Kodak computed radiography (CR) and picture archiving and communications system (PACS) equipment, Eastman Kodak Company announced today. The equipment includes a fully featured Kodak DirectView PACS system with an EMC online storage system, a StorageTek L700 tape library, 20 Kodak DirectView diagnostic and referral workstations and eight Kodak DirectView CR 900 and CR 800 systems for computed radiography.
"This multi-million dollar investment is in keeping with our absolute commitment to clinical excellence and outstanding service. A comprehensive digital imaging system will provide greater efficiencies for our staff and better service to our referring physicians and patients," said John Krepshaw, director of radiology for NorthEast Medical Center. NorthEast Medical Center selected Kodak as the vendor for both PACS and CR equipment after a lengthy evaluation of several vendors. "Kodak came out on top because it offered leading edge equipment, outstanding imaging expertise and a strong commitment to service and support," said Bill Greear, the center's radiology technical manager.
The installation of PACS and CR systems is expected to be complete by the end of March. The hospital plans to add web-based distribution capabilities later this year, which will make images available from physicians' offices. It will debut a new outpatient imaging center in 2003 that will also be linked to the facility's PACS network.
"Our PACS captures images from more than 25 imaging devices and then provides access throughout the hospital's inpatient and outpatient care areas," said Greear. "Making images available anywhere anytime not only improves efficiency, but also improves service to both our patients and referring physicians."
