Enhanced System Insures Timely Reporting
and Access of Data to Further Enhance Patient Care at Baptist Heart Services

Contact: Robby Channell, 601-968-5135 rchannell@mbhs.org

July 12 , 2005 – Jackson, Miss. A recent enhancement to Baptist Heart Services’ digital imaging system for cardiac catheterizations and echocardiograms—Philips Xcelera® System—is allowing cardiac sonographers to spend more time with patients, and less time on a computer.

An ADT interface now allows patient demographic data to be sent from Admissions directly to the Xcelera where patient demographic is automatically populated. Once the echo sonographer completes the echo and sends the images, it automatically links with the patient’s demographic data. This automation allows more time for the sonographer to spend with the patients rather than manually entering the demographic data on every patient.

“Our experience with the Xcelera System has been very positive,” says Bill McManus, ARRT, RT, RDCS of Baptist Heart Services. “Our efficiencies have improved because digital acquisition and storage means immediate access to echo images and little if any degradation of image quality. Diagnostic information is provided to physicians more quickly as compared to waiting for the video taped studies to rewind and play. The cardiologists are very pleased with the system because studies may be viewed immediately.”

The Xcelera Digital System allows one to store, analyze and archive echocardiographic images of the heart and great vessels. The digital archiving function allows the cardiologist to compare prior images and reports to the current exam, thus providing a more comprehensive and meaningful report. In addition, the physician or sonographer can compare ultrasound images side by side with cardiac cath images simultaneously.

Future enhancements to the system will include:
Orders Interface: This will allow the order for an Echo to automatically feed into the Xcelera System from STAR. The sonographers will then get a work list of patients requiring echos on each of their echo machines, reducing paperwork and phone calls.
Physician Reporting: Physicians will begin creating an echo report of the patient's findings online through a series of picklist selections. This documentation from the physician will link with the patient demographics as well as the sonographer’s calculations within the Xcelera System. A final echo report will be generated and automatically distributed to the hospital's electronic medical record, the ordering physician’s office, and the patient unit. This will eliminate the dictation and transcription process that takes place now in order to generate an echo report.
Web Browser: This will allow physicians to access to cath and echo images via the Internet.

“The entire process has been exciting and challenging and we are grateful for all of the support and hard work of all involved personnel with implementing the Xcelera system,” says McManus.

:: Back to 2005 press releases