AUGUST 17--Algotec Systems Ltd. (Israel; www.algotec.com), a developer and systems integrator of Web-based image-management, archiving, processing, and communication systems sold under the name ImagiNet, has been selected by Radiological Physician Associates Inc. (RPA; Duluth, GA) to provide a comprehensive PACS and teleradiology solution linking its more than 15 referring facilities throughout a 350-square mile area. "Algotec's ability to deliver high-quality images, open architecture, and a convenient user interface as well as to accommodate a range of modalities was key to our decision," comments Sam Merandi, vice president and general manager of Radiological Consultants Association, the practice management arm of RPA that oversaw the PACS selection and installation process.
With a staff of more than 24 radiologists, RPA is the radiology service provider for 10 hospitals and a variety of additional health-care facilities in north central West Virginia and nearby areas of Pennsylvania. Merandi points out that the PACS had to accommodate numerous sources of film entry and connections ranging from ISDN lines and wide-area frame-relay T-1 networks to standard POTS lines for rural areas without high-speed transmission capabilities. A number of film-based facilities digitize images and send them to RPA via a teleradiology system.
"Given the complex and demanding nature of the project, open architecture was essential. Moreover, because the PACS is used to a large extent for remote primary reading, superior image quality and speed also were key. Additionally, the installation had to accommodate not only x-ray but also multislice CT, MR, nuclear, and fluoroscopy as well as to offer tools for sophisticated manipulation of these studies," said Merandi.
The system has the Med-e-Mail feature, which automatically routes reports with key thumbnail images to referring physicians. Additionally, a unique Internet conferencing feature with group image-viewing and annotation capabilities offers significant benefits for remote diagnoses. "And we can use this feature for educational purposes in addition to conferences," says Merandi.
