Cardiovascular Business - March/April 2008 - (Page 14) speCial seCtioN | Cardiovascular Information Systems “We wanted a technology-forward solution that could provide rapid viewing of current and historical images and a safe and secure archive for our high volume of studies” Charlotte Wray, director of cardiovascular services, EMH regional Medical Center in Elyria, Ohio efficiency, quality, economics EMH Regional Medical Center in Elyria, Ohio, is a high-volume cardiac center. The medical center’s seven cath labs complete about 7,000 procedures annually, and its echo volume stands at about 15,000 studies annually. The center deployed Agfa’s IMPAX CV in 2003, and the comprehensive image and information management system has provided EMH Regional Medical Center the scalability and flexibility necessary to evolve in the changing cardiology arena. Prior to IMPAX CV, EMH relied on two unreliable, inefficient storage systems. “The tape-based cardiac cath system had passed end of life. It was not reliable or efficient. We stored echo studies on VHS tape, which was very inefficient and consumed a lot of space,” recalls Charlotte Wray, director of cardiovascular services. Locating an historic study was a bit like finding a needle in a haystack, and tapes didn’t The echocardiography module of Agfa’s iMPAX CV can handle digital echocardiograms always withstand the test of time, so even “found” from echo carts from a broad spectrum of industry-leading vendors. studies might hold minimal clinical value because they were unreadable. was required to fill in paperwork for each of its thousands of pa“We wanted a technology-forward solution that tients. “At any time, we might have been several months behind could provide rapid viewing of current and historical images on submission,” notes Wray, “and it wasn’t uncommon to authoand a safe and secure archive for our high volume of studies,” rize overtime to complete the paperwork.” says Wray. At first, IMPAX CV seemed like a two-for-one soluFast forward to today. Information is gathered in real-time tion, as the system replaced the outdated cath and echo systems, as catheterizations are completed. “It’s efficient, automated and providing physicians with anytime/anywhere access to images economical,” sums Schiffbauer. In addition, data are consistent through the IMPAX CVEV web-based solution. The CVIS, across all physicians as users can look up definitions and paramhowever, delivers additional value beyond cath and echo image eters for any data element via embedded hyperlinks. Plus, data management. are immediately available for quality assurance purposes or eduThat’s because image management is only one part of the CVIS cational conferences. puzzle. The other, equally important function of IMPAX CV is IMPAX CV delivers additional reporting benefits as its physithe physician reporting/database function. “All cath labs need a cian reporting component is customizable by site. EMH Medical way to categorize procedures and organize them for data submisCenter improved reporting workflow and consistency by creatsion to national registries,” says Cath Lab Manager Don Schiffing standardized text for common report sections. “Physicians bauer. Prior to Agfa HealthCare Cardiovascular, the process of no longer have to hunt and peck for commonly used language, submitting data to American College of Cardiology (ACC) regand the reports are thorough and consistent,” says Schiffbauer. istries was manual, labor-intensive and retrospective. The center 14 Cardiovascular Business March/April 2008
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