IDX Introduces Image And Information Management For Cardiology

BURLINGTON, Vt., March 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- IDX Systems Corporation , a leading provider of healthcare information systems, today announced the launch of IDX(R) Imagecast(TM) for Cardiology. Imagecast for Cardiology provides comprehensive workflow management focused on improving access, procedural throughput and closed loop reporting. Imagecast for Cardiology allows users throughout the healthcare enterprise and beyond to access and share information and images when and where they need them. Imagecast also allows specialty and sub-specialty providers such as cardiologists to automate their workflow based on their unique interpretation and reporting needs, while providing complete diagnostic image access from a PC. Together, these features are designed to optimize cardiac procedure throughput and reduce costs by eliminating unnecessary steps and inflexible technology.

Built for efficiency

Imagecast for Cardiology was specifically developed to optimize and enhance the efficiency of cardiac patient care. The product includes a continuously available cardiovascular information system (CVIS) and a cardiovascular picture archiving and communications system (CPACS). Built on the same database as Imagecast for Radiology, Imagecast for Cardiology leverages a hospital's investment in Imagecast technology. This unified architectural approach will provide organizations an alternative to multiple, costly-to-maintain systems, which can create cumbersome and inefficient workflows, characterized by multiple log-ins, proprietary data silos and manual transfer of images or data.

Imagecast for Cardiology supports each member of the cardiology team with solutions that simplify and enhance clinical, financial and administrative work. By providing physicians, clinicians, nursing staff, administrators and executives with the tools they can use to achieve optimized performance, Imagecast for Cardiology can alleviate the pressures of staff shortages and increased patient volume. A more efficiently run department, continuity of patient information and images, the ability to expand the referral base, decreased liability and more time for patients are expected benefits.

"Imagecast for Cardiology is the result of IDX's deep knowledge of our customers' workflow, profitability and patient care requirements," said Debra Stenner, Vice President Business Planning and Product Strategy, IDX Imagecast Operating Unit. "With it, our customers can rapidly access clinical outcomes, streamline the cardiology department, enhance quality care and grow high margin procedural events."

A procedure-based workflow designed for cardiologists and the enterprise

Because cardiology is a multi-step, procedure-based specialty, Imagecast for Cardiology is designed around a worklist orientation. This worklist- driven workflow enhances the ease of access to critical patient images and information for comprehensive patient evaluation during the episode of care.

Because cardiologists often diagnose and treat patients within the same episode, they require ready access to all associated images and information. Imagecast for Cardiology allows for the cross-reading of images between radiology and cardiology (for example, with CT, MRI and nuclear medicine). In addition, through adherence to evolving industry standards for connectivity, Imagecast for Cardiology provides physicians with just-in-time access to all related images from the patient's electronic medical record, as well as other critical information -- such as medical history and medication allergies.

Finally, Imagecast for Cardiology allows organizations to realize tight integration between information and imaging data across boundaries -- whether multiple medical devices, departments, time zones or even partners' care delivery sites. Physicians can access the information and images from wherever they need them, be it in the hospital, in the clinic, their office or their home. Imagecast for Cardiology also allows organizations to integrate third-party components through an open API framework while supporting industry standard protocols and open connectivity through Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) cardiology initiatives.

"IDX has a 35-year history of innovation in the healthcare industry. We are continuing to evolve to meet the changing needs for healthcare delivery," said Walt Marti, Vice President and General Manager, IDX Imagecast Operating Unit. "By providing the tools necessary to streamline a cardiology department's workflow, IDX is providing its customers with a platform for enhanced patient care and profitability."

See Imagecast for Cardiology in action at ACC

Imagecast for Cardiology will premiere at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) 2005 Annual Scientific Session in Orlando, Florida, March 6 - 9, IDX booth 933. Imagecast for Cardiology will also demonstrate support for IHE's Cardiac Catherization Workflow, Retrieve ECG for Display and Echocardiography Workflow profiles at the ACC, in the IHE Interoperability Showcase, booth 4563.

About IDX(R) Imagecast(TM)

Imagecast solutions provide healthcare institutions, such as hospitals, academic medical centers, integrated delivery networks and imaging centers, with comprehensive distributed access to significant clinical findings and associated images. Our solutions optimize productivity, enhance business practices, and facilitate clinical decision making. Today's leading medical specialists, business managers, and executives can depend on IDX because only Imagecast products combine advanced technology with unmatched expertise to deliver visionary workflow integration. For more information, visit http://www.idx.com/imagecast.

About IDX

Founded in 1969, IDX Systems Corporation provides information technology solutions to maximize value in the delivery of healthcare, improve the quality of patient service, enhance medical outcomes, and reduce the costs of care. IDX supports these objectives with a broad range of complementary and functionally rich products installed at 3,300 customer sites. Customers include 138,000 physicians who utilize practice management systems to improve patient care and other workflow processes. IDX software solutions are installed at:

  * 380 integrated delivery networks (IDNs) representing more than 500
    hospitals
  * 175 large group practices with more than 200 physicians
  * 665 mid-size group practices with less than 200 physicians

IDX also provides its enterprise clinical software as a subcontractor to BT and Fujitsu Services, Local Service Providers for the United Kingdom National Health Service's National Programme for Information Technology, an initiative to establish electronic patient records for 50 million patients.

The IDX web strategy includes browser technology, e-commerce and web-based tools -- built using Internet architecture -- that facilitates access for patients, physicians and care providers to vital health information and data managed by the IDX clinical, administrative, financial, and managed care products. IDX has approximately 2,100 full-time employees.

IDX and Imagecast are registered trademarks or trademarks of IDX Investment Corporation.

This press release contains forward-looking statements about IDX Systems Corporation that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are uncertainties or difficulties in developing and/or integrating new services and systems, difficulties in implementing systems, difficulties in servicing customers, possible deferral, delay or cancellation by customers of computer system or service purchase decisions, possible delay of system installations and service implementations, development by competitors of new or superior technologies or changes in our relationships with third party suppliers, changing economic, political and regulatory influences on the healthcare industry, possible disruptions in the national economy caused by terrorist activities and foreign conflicts, changes in product pricing policies, governmental regulation of IDX's software and operations, the possibility of product-related liabilities, and factors detailed from time to time in IDX's periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which important factors are incorporated herein by reference. IDX undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or changes in future operating results, financial condition or business over time.

For more information, contact: Michael Mast Marketing Communications Manager, Imagecast michael_mast@idx.com 802-859-6305

IDX Systems Corporation

CONTACT: Michael Mast, Marketing Communications Manager, Imagecast, +1-802-859-6305, michael_mast@idx.com

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