Business Editors

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 26, 2001

Leading New Jersey Hospital Group is First to Install System

to Streamline Diagnostic Procedures, Improve Patient Services;

Radiologist Access To Patient Images, Information

Now Just A Keystroke Away

Two Atlantic City Medical Center (ACMC) division hospitals - the Mainland Division and City Division - are the first medical facilities to streamline diagnostic procedures and improve patient services by installing the Canon Digital Radiography (DR) System with the Canon Picture Archiving System (PACS) and Radiology Information Systems (RIS).

Valued at several hundred thousand dollars, the Canon CXDI-11 and CXDI-22 Digital Radiography systems from Canon Medical Systems are integrated with 15 existing Canon PACS workstations and the 7TB permanent archiving system.

Canon Medical Systems is a division of Canon U.S.A., Inc., which is a subsidiary of Canon Inc. (NYSE: CAJ), a worldwide leader in digital imaging technology.

"Our previous experience with Canon PACS products led us to make this decision to again go with Canon to broaden our filmless solution," said Butch Womble, radiology administrator, Atlantic City Medical Center. "Over the past two years, the Canon PACS system has demonstrated superior reliability and we are confident that adding the Canon DR systems to our existing network will provide us with the same exceptional performance that we have come to expect from Canon

Rather than employ a conventional RIS broker box, the Canon DR system and Canon PACS use the company's innovative Canon Connector software technology to display patient work lists. DR operators retrieve patient information and study orders with a simple query to the Patient Context Database. The Canon Connector also sends patient admission and order information to Canon PACS. This information can be used for prefetch, film scanning, and inserting demographic information missing from image headers.

Integrating the Canon DR and Canon PACS systems with Canon Connector technology allows radiologists and technologists to enhance workflow from RIS to modalities and PACS. This new system significantly reduces total study time, eliminates potential for human error and increases productivity.

Patient information collected at the hospitals by the Canon system is available immediately to physicians and other healthcare professionals on the Internet through InfoShare, ACMC's partner-group. The InfoShare network acts as a data repository that allows physicians and other healthcare professionals to access patient information and images at the hospital, from offices and even from their homes. At the same time, a rigorous system of security assures that patient confidentiality is safeguarded.

"Canon is again pleased to provide ACMC with filmless radiology solutions," said Eric Kuramoto, vice president, Canon Medical Systems. "We're excited to be part of the expansion in this area and we look forward to supporting the medical center with future imaging technology requirements."

Canon Digital Radiography systems allow immediate viewing, storage and transmission of images. Technologists can preview x-ray images within three seconds of exposure. The large dynamic range reduces the need for retakes. Eliminating film development saves time and provides an economical solution to traditional analog x-ray film equipment with digital sensors.

With the industry's largest imaging area, 17 x 17 inches, the slim flat panel can be inserted on a new or existing bucky table and mounted on a tilting wall stand or universal stand. A crystal-clear diagnostic image, available approximately 30 seconds after the pre-view images are confirmed by the technologist, is sent to a PACS and/or a DICOM printer. A matrix of over seven million pixels produces high-resolution images in 4,096 gray scale for superior resolution and contrast.

Canon PACS allows instant image acquisition, distribution and archival from any modality. With real time cross-referencing and similar plane grouping, Canon PACS can improve consultation due to real time measurements and shared image display. Canon PACS is used for multi-modality reading and designed, using a robust Unix platform, to handle heavy traffic and large workloads. The scalable and distributed data architecture provides a solid foundation to accommodate the demands of private imaging centers, community hospitals and multi-facility teaching institutions. Researchers have found that digital systems reduce exam times by as much as 62 percent.

The city's first hospital, Atlantic City Medical Center is part of the AtlantiCare Health System, a non-profit integrated network of healthcare services throughout New Jersey. A teaching hospital, ACMC is the home of the region's only Level II Trauma Center, its only neonatal intensive care unit, and its most comprehensive cancer and heart centers. ACMC has 581 beds, 400 board-certified or board eligible physicians, approximately 2,000 healthcare professionals and hundreds of volunteers in its two divisions located in Atlantic City and Pomona. ACMC was awarded a 97 percent rating in the 1997 survey by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

Dynamic Imaging, Inc., Canon's Authorized System Integrator for the northeast that is based in Mahwah, New Jersey, installed the Canon system. A PACS integration business for over 10 years, Dynamic Imaging specializes in design, implementation and technical support of medical imaging network solutions. As an authorized System Integrator for Canon Medical Systems, Dynamic Imaging has implemented multiple Canon PACS and DR installations in various institutions throughout the northeastern United States and Florida. It markets and supports Canon Medical Systems PACS and DR through its extensive sales and service network. Dynamic Imaging will provide system support for ACMC.

Canon Medical Systems was formed in April 1999 to provide medical facilities with a single source from which to purchase Canon's innovative Digital Radiography systems and PACS technology to streamline costs associated with diagnostic procedures.

Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon Inc., provides professional and consumer imaging solutions that give people the Know How to access the latest technology. The company's comprehensive product line includes networked multifunction devices; digital and analog copiers (color and black and white); printers, scanners, image filing systems, and facsimile machines; camcorders, cameras and lenses; and semiconductor, broadcast and medical equipment. Canon employs 12,000 people at more than 30 facilities throughout North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.

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