Cerner Corp. in Q1 2007 reported strong order bookings as well as revenue and earnings growth. Bookings in the first quarter 2007 were $353.0 million, up 35 percent over the year-ago quarter and a record for the first quarter. Q1 2007 revenue increased 14 percent to $365.9 million compared to $321.2 million in the year-ago quarter.
Independent research organization ECRI Institute www.ecri.org will host an audio conference on May 16 to discuss use of CT to assure that it is performed only when clinically justified and that radiation doses are kept as low as possible. The organization cites research that found that CT may account for up to 6,000 cancers per year in the U.S.
During the audio conference experts will provide insight on minimizing risks associated with CT radiation through proper equipment selections, policy considerations, and staff training. Topics will include: eliminating unnecessary CT use with alternative technologies; raising awareness of CT dose risks among referring physicians; and developing policies to guide CT use. More details are available at www.ecri.org.
Eclipsys Corporation has for the second consecutive year been included in the 2007 annual ranking of the world's best outsourcing providers, “The Global Outsourcing 100,” by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals. Eclipsys was the only healthcare information technology vendor named to the list.
Emory Healthcare, Georgia’s largest and most comprehensive healthcare system, has selected IntelliMotion, GE Healthcare’s active RFID system. Emory will initially install tracking tags in all infusion pumps throughout the hospital to increase utilization and reduce staff time spent locating the equipment. IntelliMotion uses a proprietary RFID network to locate tagged equipment within a facility. The technology IntelliMotion operates through a separate network that does not interfere with existing healthcare networks – wired or wireless – and does not consume valuable network bandwidth.
Motorola Inc. has introduced the MC35 Enterprise Digital Assistant (EDA), a durable and compact handheld mobile communication device with voice and data applications. The MC35 is the third device in Motorola's family of EDAs, and offers advanced cellular technology, including built-in Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) capabilities, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, with laptop functionality, camera, and bar code reader. Users can talk, email, connect to the Internet, use mission-critical business applications, and capture data (including signatures) with one, easy-to-use device for lower total-cost-of-ownership.
Randolph County Hospital in Pocahontas, Ark. has selected Neurostar’s Virtual Radiology Network to enable digital image management and remote reading of its multi-modality exams by the Northeast Arkansas Clinic in Jonesboro.
RamSoft has released its PowerServer PACS version 4.3, the first release under the company's new Customer Action Initiative (CAI), an internal program aimed at customer centric software improvement and development. RamSoft will demonstrate PowerServer PACS and RamSoft One RIS/PACS/Billing software at the SIIM 2007 conference in Providence, R.I. in June.
The new PowerServer release addresses a long list of product enhancements and feature requests commonly asked for by users, RamSoft said, and all enhancement and feature additions were made with great care to ensure zero productivity disruption.
"Our goal with this new release was to immediately improve user productivity, yet avoid the disruption and retraining associated with upgrades," said Michal Szabla, vice president for RamSoft. "In order to accomplish that, we had to employ a user transparent design. It was challenging but was definitely worth the effort. Most of the new stuff just works and has no impact on the product's feel."