Newswatch: February 2005

Industry Partnerships

ComSynTech

Communication Synergy Technology Inc (ComSynTech of Rochester, NY) will partner with MedPay USA (Austin, Tex) to expand the workflow functions in ComSynTech's InForm RIS with the additional power of the MedPay billing verification software. New eligibility functionality will enable the InForm RIS to deliver a host of prebilling functions, including eligibility verification, Medicare compliance, electronic claims processing, claims auditing, claims status, remittance posting, secondary billing, contract management, denial management, and contract management.

Also in the works for ComSynTech is its partnership with the SSI Group Inc (Mobile, Ala) to integrate SSI's billing solution into ComSynTech's InForm RIS. The billing solution is efficient and broadens bill-paying convenience by providing electronic access to 400 major insurance carriers nationwide. Additionally, the solution provides full function for bill submission through account reconciliation.

Dunlee

Dunlee (Aurora, Ill) and Ampronix (Irvine, Calif) have signed a contract with Fimi Information Displays, a division of Philips Electronics (Bothell, Wash), establishing Ampronix as the sales and service representative for Philips Fimi medical monitors within the United States. Ampronix's experience with distributing and servicing medical imaging components will expand the services now provided to Fimi customers. According to the terms of the agreement, Ampronix will assume business relationships from Dunlee TubeMaster (Arlington, Texas) for the line of Philips/Fimi medical-grade LCD and CRT displays

Feinfocus

Feinfocus (Stamford, Conn), a manufacturer of high-resolution X-ray inspection systems and tubes, has partnered with IslandTek International (Taiwan), a PCBA equipment sales company. IslandTek represents the entire line of Feinfocus X-ray inspection systems for the PCBA industry in Taiwan.

Fischer Imaging

Fischer Imaging Corp (Denver) has announced its agreement with Virtual Imaging Inc (Delray Beach, Fla) to supply components that will be incorporated into a digital X-ray system designed for trauma and general radiographic use. Throughout the partnership, Fischer will provide U-arm assemblies for Virtual Imaging to integrate into its family of DR components from Canon Medical Systems (Lake Success, NY). The agreement will enable Virtual Imaging to develop a digital X-ray system that will be available through the company's network of distributors in the United States.

Fuji

Meditech (Westwood, Mass) and FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA (FMSU of Stamford, Conn) recently reported on the success of their collaborative RIS/PACS integration effort. The companies have been working cohesively and now share an installed base of more than 40 healthcare facilities, including 16 Hospital Corp of America sites. The two companies have demonstrated the benefits of their collaboration with their first successful integration of Meditech's Enterprise Medical Record with FMSU's Synapse PACS.

HP

Hewlett-Packard Co (HP of Palo Alto, Calif) and Siemens Medical Solutions (Malvern, Pa) are combining Siemens' Sienet Cosmos image-management system with HP services and industry-standard servers. Designed for radiological practices and community hospitals, Sienet Cosmos handles examination scheduling, reporting, archive imaging, and report distribution.

HP also is expanding its existing relationship with Bycast (Vancouver) to develop advanced storage solutions for the healthcare industry. To meet the substantial market need for a cost-effective storage platform for fixed-content data, HP and Bycast have signed a memorandum of understanding to deliver solutions targeting medical image storage and archiving. These solutions will be available in the first quarter of 2005.

InSiteOne

Force 3 Inc (Crofton, Md) and InSiteOne Inc (Wallingford, Conn) have teamed to provide joint products and services to the healthcare community. The alliance allows Force 3 and InSiteOne to provide network assessments, security, image storage, and other advanced technologies to an array of customers in healthcare.

InSiteOne also has signed an agreement with Ultimate Medical Services (Lake Charles, La), whereby Ultimate Medical will bundle InSiteOne's disaster-recovery solution, InDex Recovery, and other storage options with its line of PACS.

Mercury Computer Systems Inc

As part of their ongoing alliance to increase performance and quality in 3-D image reconstruction and visualization for mobile C-arm X-ray systems, Mercury Computer Systems Inc (Chelmsford, Mass) and Ziehm Imaging GmbH (Riverside, Calif) have entered into an agreement in which Ziehm will leverage the Mercury VisageRT 3-D imaging software and acceleration hardware. The companies want to gain the full potential of their C-arm solutions, which deliver clinical mobility through single-lever rear-wheel steering and braking control.

SmartPACS

SmartPACS (Irvington, NJ) has formed a partnership with Provox Technologies Corp (Roanoke, Va) to integrate Provox VoxReports radiology speech-recognition reporting within SmartPACS diagnostic workstations. Currently, Provox is working with SmartPACS to develop an enhanced PACS and report creation user interface by integrating the two systems.

SourceOne

SourceOne Healthcare Technologies (Mentor, Ohio) and Imaging Dynamics Co Ltd (IDC of Calgary, Alberta) have partnered, giving SourceOne nationwide distribution rights to IDC's direct digital radiography solutions. The partnership allows the companies to provide complete medical solutions to facilities looking to make the transition to a digital environment at an affordable price.

SourceOne also has signed an agreement with PenRad Technologies Inc (Plymouth, Minn), giving SourceOne nationwide rights to distribute PenRad's mammography information systems. The addition of PenRad's mammography information system enhances SourceOne's ability to provide a complete women's healthcare solution, including analog, digital imaging systems, and now management information systems.

TeraRecon

TeraRecon Inc (San Mateo, Calif) and Fukuda Denshi Co Ltd (Tokyo) have strengthened their partnership in the development and distribution of advanced ultrasound with two new contracts for research and development. The first new contract relates to 4-D imaging, whereby an ultrasound system produces live real-time 3-D images of anatomy in motion. The second new contract relates to joint development of additional ultrasound systems to include portable and cart-based B-Mode systems and a next-generation portable color Doppler system.