ROCHESTER, N.Y., Oct. 12 — Carestream Health has sold its 1,000th medical imaging system using its CARESTREAM DRX-1, the industry’s first wireless, cassette-sized detector that can help streamline overall imaging workflow, while simultaneously improving productivity and enhancing patient care. Prominent healthcare providers that have adopted the system include: The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; Bumrungrad, Bangkok, Thailand; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland; Homerton University Hospital, London, England; Rudolfstiftung Hospital, Vienna, Austria; Hospital de Segovia, Segovia, Spain; Selayang Hospital , Selangor, Malaysia; Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Mass.; and Waldkrankenhaus Rudolf, Thuringia, Germany.
The company’s family of DRX-based imaging solutions includes: the CARESTREAM DRX-1 System, CARESTREAM DRX-Mobile Retrofit kit and CARESTREAM DRX-Evolution suite. It also includes a second detector, the cesium iodide-based CARESTREAM DRX-1C, that offers exceptional image quality and improved DQE (detective quantum efficiency). DRX detectors are integrated into Philips, GE, Siemens, Shimadzu, and other vendors’ room-based x-ray systems, as well as mobile x-ray systems from GE, Siemens and Shimadzu.
DRX-based systems offer compelling options because the detectors can be used in multiple systems at a facility. For example, a detector can be used in a mobile unit for early morning rounds at a hospital and then moved to a general radiology room for the rest of the day. Detectors can also be moved from day use in general radiology rooms to mobile units that serve the emergency department at night.
DRX Family Delivers Impressive Cost Savings
Healthcare providers report impressive savings when comparing the DRX family with other options. “When we purchased two DRX-Evolution suites, we saved $300,000 over the competing DR suppliers. We also saved almost $100,000 in our purchase of five retrofit kits for our mobile x-ray systems,” said Larry B. Kirschner, FAHRA, Radiology Team Leader, Heartland Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph, Mo. “Not only did we save money, we gained the positioning flexibility and other advantages offered by a removable, wireless detector when compared to mobile systems with tethered detectors and DR suites with fixed detectors. We also enjoy the ability to move detectors from x-ray rooms to mobile systems as needed.”
Rapid, Affordable Conversion for Existing Rooms, Mobile Systems
Healthcare providers can convert existing analog film or CR rooms to DR in less than one day—and at a fraction of the price of remodeling the entire room.
“Installing the wireless DRX-1 system in a remote analog room allows us to gain improved productivity and throughput, along with enhanced usability and positioning flexibility. The DRX-1 delivers high-quality digital images in seconds, and this remote room is now fully connected with the enterprise PACS,” Prof. Rita Golfieri, Chief of Radiology Department, University Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
A retrofit kit integrates the wireless DRX-1 detector with existing mobile x-ray systems to deliver immediate enterprise-wide image access to images. Carestream Health’s innovative Tube and Line Visualization feature uses a single exposure to display an enhanced companion image with more precise visualization of lines and tubes, which are typically difficult to view. This software is available for all DRX-based systems and can be used in ED, ICU, pediatric ICU and other environments.
“Implementing the wireless DRX-1 detector in our mobile system allowed us to both increase productivity and shorten patient examination times, which benefits patients and staff. We are also very happy with the improvements we are seeing in image quality,” said Prof. Dr. Tscholakoff, Institute Director, Rudolfstiftung Hospital, Vienna, Austria.
Cost-Effective DR Suite Delivers Exceptional Positioning
The DRX-Evolution is a cost-effective, automated DR suite that delivers rapid patient throughput with the ultimate in positioning flexibility, since DRX detectors can be removed from the Bucky for tabletop and difficult exams. “The DRX-Evolution allows us to take lateral views of patients with severe mobility restrictions—without having to turn them on their sides. This is a key advantage since we treat many patients suffering from musculoskeletal problems and other conditions,” said Dr. Wolf–D. Wetzler, Senior Staff Physician, Radiology, Waldkrankenhaus Rudolf, Thuringia, Germany.
The DRX-1 and DRX-1C detectors improve patient positioning and comfort by eliminating cables and tethers typically required by most DR-based systems. The new CARESTREAM DRX-1C detector can be used with all three DRX-based imaging systems. Its exceptional image quality make it an ideal fit for general radiography exams including orthopedic, trauma, pediatric and other specialty environments.
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About Carestream Health
Carestream Health is a worldwide provider of dental and medical imaging systems and healthcare IT solutions; molecular imaging systems for the life science research and drug discovery/development market segments; and x-ray film and digital x-ray products for the non-
destructive testing market. For more information about the company’s broad portfolio of products, solutions and services, please contact your Carestream Health representative or visit www.carestreamhealth.com.
CARESTREAM is a trademark of Carestream Health
2010