At RSNA 2005, the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America in Chicago (USA), Agfa will showcase a range of services and solutions, which demonstrate major advances in its portfolio. These advances are based on breakthrough solutions in Computed Radiology (CR) and PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication Systems); on expanded IT capabilities through the acquisition of Heartlab, a leader in cardiovascular IT, and on a series of healthcare IT acquisitions through which Agfa has become a European leader in enterprise IT. At the start of RSNA 2005, Agfa has also announced a string of important new contracts that confirms Agfa’s strong position in the healthcare sector.
  • New major contracts in the USA, the Netherlands, Ireland and Canada

Since RSNA 2004, Agfa HealthCare has acquired Symphonie-on-Line, GWI, Heartlab and Med2Rad and has revamped its entire portfolio of products.  Additionally, Agfa announced last week a bi-lateral agreement with Siemens to extend their digital radiography offerings.

Agfa HealthCare is now ranked as one of the largest healthcare IT businesses with approximately one-third of annual revenues coming from IT. The expansion into IT was a logical extension. Radiology, as an image intensive department, was the first to request and to use IT solutions.  “Our experience and understanding of this department and their demanding requirements gave us the knowledge and confidence to move into the IT arena, which we have now done through a series of strategic acquisitions.  Radiology is our foundation, and it is integrating seamlessly with our rapidly growing competence of IT,” says Agfa’s HealthCare President, Philippe Houssiau.

New product and technology developments

Highlights at the Agfa booth at RSNA 2005 include:

– the global launch of Agfa’s next generation in PACS, IMPAX 6.0, a web-deployable image and information management solution that leverages persona-based workflow and smart client technology to streamline workflow and deliver greater efficiency to a healthcare institution;
– the global launch of IMPAX Enterprise, an innovative solution that features at its core IMPAX 6.0, which delivers integrated RIS/PACS/Reporting, Auditing, 24×7 Monitoring, Enterprise Connectivity and Support Services to offer a complete, integrated, and efficient approach to user-to-enterprise information and workflow management;
– the North American launch of DX-S, a solution that is a pioneer in bridging Computed Radiography (CR) and Direct Radiography (DR) through the unique combination of two technologies, DirectriX and ScanHead;  
– demonstrations of Agfa’s newly designed entry level RIS/PACS solutions aimed at community hospitals;
– demonstrations of Agfa’s Heartlab cardiovascular solutions, now available worldwide;
– demonstrations of the international version of the ORBIS hospital-wide integrated IT system.

Agfa’s HealthCare business group will also be demonstrating their integrated workflow solution at RSNA, illustrating their scope and expertise in radiology, both in hospitals and in imaging centers.

Agfa integrates its RIS/PACS solution with SAP at Maaslandziekenhuis Sittard, the Netherlands

In a major step towards a completely digital hospital, the Maaslandziekenhuis Sittard, in the south of the Netherlands, has commissioned Agfa to integrate Agfa’s Radiology Information System (RIS) and IMPAX Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS) with the hospital’s current SAP-based hospital information system. Agfa’s WEB1000 web server interface allows any user in the hospital to access IMPAX data seamlessly through the SAP viewing application. 
The 3.5 million euro / US $4 million order of Maaslandziekenhuis Sittard includes the installation of a hospital-wide RIS/PACS solution for image and information management.

Cork University Hospital selects latest version of IMPAX to anchor new enterprise IT solution

The Cork University Hospital in Cork, Ireland, has selected Agfa’s new IMPAX Enterprise IT solution for its radiology information and image management. Implementation of the 1.5 million euro / US$1.6 million system, which will be integrated with the hospital’s existing Hospital Information System, will take place in 2006. 
The Cork University Hospital is a major academic teaching hospital and Level 1 trauma center with 615 beds, serving a population of about 550,000 people. Eleven radiologists perform 130,000 examinations annually. The hospital provides imaging services to St. Mary’s Orthopaedic Hospital, St. Finbarrr’s Hospital (Geriatric and Maternity), and the Erinville Maternity Hospital.

Agfa’s IMPAX 6.0 chosen by the largest hospital group in Ontario, Canada

The Niagara Health System in Ontario (Canada) has become the first customer in Canada to implement Agfa’s new web-deployable IMPAX 6.0 integrated PACS (Picture Archive and Communications System) and Voice Recognition solution.  Furthermore, as part of the pre-launch contract, Niagara Health System will utilize Agfa’s CR (Computed Radiography) system to acquire, process, and generate digital x-ray images.  
Niagara Health System will use Agfa’s new IMPAX 6.0 for the acquisition, storage, and distribution of more than 300,000 exams and reports generated annually. 
After an exhaustive review of potential vendors, Agfa was the unanimous selection of the Niagara Health System five-member PACS committee.

U.S. Army’s Fort Knox base hospital and satellite sites integrate Agfa’s IMPAX solution

The U.S. Army’s Ireland Army Community Hospital, the main healthcare facility at Fort Knox (Kentucky, USA), along with other clinics at the base and two other Army medical sites in Indiana and Wisconsin, have successfully integrated Agfa’s IMPAX PACS (Picture Archiving and Communications System) into their existing systems. The move has resulted in cost savings and decreased reporting times for the facilities. Additional army medical facilities in other states will also soon integrate into the IMPAX network.  
In addition to the cost savings and quick implementations, the Army noted Agfa’s high imaging quality as a significant benefit in the selection of Agfa as the sole PACS vendor for the region.


Nancy Glynn
Vice President Communication
Tel nr.: +32 (0) 3 444 8000
Fax nr.: +32 (0) 3 444 7485
nancy.glynn@agfa.com

Geertrui De Smet
Global PR Manager HealthCare
Tel nr.: +32 (0) 3 444 73 06
Fax nr.: +32 (0) 3 444 7285
geertruidesmet@agfapress.com

Johan Jacobs
Corporate Press Relations Manager
Tel nr.: +32 (0) 3 444 8015
Fax nr.: +32 (0) 3 444 4485
johan.jacobs@agfa.com