GE, EMC introduces PACS for smaller-sized healthcare providers
GE Healthcare yesterday launched Centricity PACS SE that utilizes EMC Corp.'s CLARiiON AX100 networked storage system and meets the filmless workflow needs and budgets of community hospitals and imaging centers.

According to GE, the system is similar to the Centricity PACS Enterprise Edition in that it utilizes powerful imaging applications, including Centricity RA 1000 radiology application; Centricity AW Suite for visualization of large data sets of PET/CT, CT, MR and XR; and Centricity Enterprise Web for image and information distribution.

EMC's CLARiiON AX100 networked storage system supports Microsoft Windows, Linux, and Novell NetWare server platforms. EMC AX100 uses 12 serial ATA drives giving it 3 Terabytes (TB) of storage with 2.2 usable storage capacity -- approximately two years of storage for a 100 bed hospital. An average imaging study requires 1 GB of storage.

AX100 is also able to increase storage using SAM modules which grow as facilities needs grow, GE said.    

GE has approximately 36 percent market share of U.S. PACS market which is estimated at about $800 million to $1 billion. The worldwide PACS market is estimated at $1.5 billion.
    In addition, GE also launched Centricity AW Suite, an advanced workstation to bring advanced visualization tools to ordinary computer workstations.

"This solution makes digital technology more accessible," said Dow Wilson, CEO and president of GE Healthcare Information Technologies. "Centricity PACS SE is perfectly designed for this growing market, with an appealing price, new process, and technology to simplify the installation and conversion to digital workflow."

"EMC's collaboration with GE Healthcare has practically eliminated the barrier for community hospitals to implement and maintain a world-class filmless digital storage system," said David Goulden, EMC executive vice president, Customer Operations. "With a data capacity of up to 2.25 terabytes in a single unit, the EMC CLARiiON AX100 is both simple to install and highly scalable."

Centricity PACS SE is now shipping, with pilot sites already in operation. It is commercially available in the United States, GE said.

Centricity PACS SE will be on display at the Radiological Society of North America's annual meeting from Nov. 28 - Dec. 2 in Chicago.
Trimed Popup
Trimed Popup