Date: May 14, 2008 Source: Company Data (
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ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--McKesson today announced it has acquired Vivalog LLC, a leading provider of Web-based solutions, including its MyPACS.net medical imaging reference site, that enable radiologists, cardiologists, and other imaging specialists to efficiently organize and share image and reference case information needed during daily practice. This portfolio extends current hospital imaging and information management systems with reference case management and clinical conferencing capabilities that result in rich, multimedia knowledge repositories to assist in diagnostics as well as research and training.
"Currently, radiologists and cardiologists spend considerable time every day manually preparing and searching for documented reference cases for clinical rounds, conferences, training and research projects, using inadequate tools," said Joe Biegel, vice president, product management, McKesson's Medical Imaging Group. "With this solution, McKesson can help healthcare organizations improve their bottom line. Imaging specialists will be able to spend fewer hours each week preparing for rounds and conferences, freeing up more time for patient care and revenue-generating activities. Furthermore, this solution offers a constantly growing decision support resource which allows imaging specialists to efficiently look up reference cases when deciding on a diagnosis, helping to reduce diagnostic errors."
By providing imaging specialists with instant access to related cases, the Vivalog system saves time by eliminating unnecessary steps. A fully integrated reference case management solution provides staff with faster access to their peers' knowledge and an efficient way to capture and share their own evolving knowledge.
Vivalog also facilitates collaboration and communication among radiologists during the diagnostic decision process. The solution set includes integrated access to MyPACS.net, a Web-based community for radiology decision support and exchange of case knowledge. MyPACS.net houses the largest collection of online teaching files, serving as a global, comprehensive decision-support resource. Since its inception eight years ago, users have contributed 18,000 reference cases depicting thousands of diseases. Cases are displayed using patent-pending Web technology that lets the users manipulate images directly in their browser without need for additional software. Each month, the site receives approximately 1 million page views from 70,000 imaging professionals around the world. Vivalog's most recent innovation uses biomedical case management and collaborative knowledge-sharing technologies to support image-based research and clinical trials.
"Radiologists are overworked and, like other clinicians, want to do all they can to prevent diagnostic errors," said Rex Jakobovits, Ph.D., Vivalog founder and president. "Our solution enables imaging specialists to leverage the wealth of information inherent in their image archives and provides a more efficient mechanism for global collaboration and communication of findings."
With the addition of these solutions, McKesson's information technology-based enterprise imaging offering continues to lead the industry in enabling healthcare facilities to provide better, safer care. McKesson's enterprise imaging solutions offer unprecedented data sharing, connecting the entire care team and speeding the diagnostic process -- from ordering a procedure to distributing reports and diagnoses. McKesson intends to continue to leverage the excellent standards-based connectivity of the Vivalog product set in order to allow the widest possible benefit to healthcare institutions.
About McKesson
McKesson Corporation, currently ranked 18th on the FORTUNE 500, is a healthcare services and information technology company dedicated to helping its customers deliver high-quality healthcare by reducing costs, streamlining processes, and improving the quality and safety of patient care. McKesson is the longest-operating company in healthcare today, marking its 175th anniversary this year. Over the course of its history, McKesson has grown by providing pharmaceutical and medical-surgical supply management across the spectrum of care; healthcare information technology for hospitals, physicians, homecare and payors; hospital and retail pharmacy automation; and services for manufacturers and payors designed to improve outcomes for patients. For more information, visit www.mckesson.com.
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