Quebec the First Province to Use IBM Digital Medical Images Solution

    


    
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<p><location>QUEBEC</location> CITY, <location>Quebec</location> and MARKHAM, Ontario, <chron>Sept. 28</chron> /CNW/ -- The Agence de la sante et des services sociaux de <location>Montreal</location> has signed a five-year, C$3.6 million deal with Artefact Informatique, the health division of LGS Group Inc., an IBM (NYSE: IBM) company - the first of its kind in <location>Canada</location> - to build a registry for digital medical images based on the Canada-wide Cross-enterprise Document Sharing (XDS) standard.</p>
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<p>With the new tool, <location>Quebec</location> physicians will have quick electronic access to the millions of X-rays, MRIs and other medical images stored annually in three secure digital imaging repositories across the province.</p>
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<p>"The registry will enable <location>Quebec</location> family doctors to better serve their patients," said <person>Raymond Carrier</person>, project manager, ministere de la Sante et des Services sociaux du <location>Quebec</location>. "Medical professionals can search for, access and view digital images from their offices, regardless of where or how originals are stored. This is the final step that will lead to a comprehensive medical imaging domain solution as part of the <location>Quebec</location> EHR plan."</p>
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<p>To use the tool, doctors will access IBM's Cross-enterprise Document Sharing Integration (XDS-I) registry to view a list of all images on file for their patient. By clicking on an item, the IBM solution will provide a link or point to wherever the images are stored, in one of three digital imaging repositories the province maintains.</p>
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<p>Radiologists will also be able to share the workload by gaining access to remote images. This will accelerate diagnosis in regions where radiologists are in short supply.</p>
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<p>The new registry is expected to be available in 2010. Currently, family physicians in <location>Quebec</location> have no electronic access to digital images for their patients, and instead must source the physical X-ray or image itself directly from the radiologist - images that can go missing in transit or not arrive at all.</p>
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<p>The registry conforms to the XDS-I Profile being promoted by <location>Canada</location> Health Infoway. Since it is based on open industry standards, it is compatible with other Electronic Health Record (EHR) components. Using open standards for EHR will allow for quicker integration and adoption of a system that will ultimately lead to better decision-making for clinicians and better healthcare for patients.</p>
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<p>"<location>Quebec</location> is the first province to adopt the XDS-I standard as a province-wide solution for medical images," said <person>Louise Beauchesne</person>, executive regional director for <location>Canada</location> Health Infoway, <location>Quebec</location> region. "It is the goal of <location>Canada</location> Health Infoway to ensure that secure, remote access to electronic health records leads to better healthcare for Canadians."</p>
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<p>Last year, IBM announced the creation of a Centre of Excellence at Artefact Informatique to facilitate the sharing of critical medical documents between physicians, clinics and hospitals.</p>
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<p>"IBM <location>Canada</location> has worldwide responsibility for the development and support of this industry-leading registry that is being implemented in the Province of <location>Quebec</location>," said <person>Barry Burk</person>, vice president, Healthcare Industry, IBM <location>Canada</location>. "Under Diane Bouchard's leadership, the Artefact Informatique team is deploying this solution which will enable better access to information and improved patient care."</p>
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<p>As the exclusive global provider of the solution, Artefact Informatique, a division of LGS Group Inc., an IBM company, is responsible for the evolution of the product as well as the customization, support and integration services. In collaboration with IBM researchers, Artefact Informatique developed the tool that is the core of this IT solution chosen by the <location>Quebec</location> government.</p>
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<p>For more information about the ministere de la Sante et des Services sociaux, please visit <a href="http://www.msss.gouv.qc.ca">www.msss.gouv.qc.ca</a>.</p>
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<p>For more information about the Agence de la sante et des services sociaux de <location>Montreal</location>, please visit <a href="http://www.santemontreal.qc.ca">www.santemontreal.qc.ca</a>.</p>
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<p>For more information about IBM Healthcare, visit <a href="http://www.ibm.com/industries/healthcare">www.ibm.com/industries/healthcare</a>.</p>
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    Media Contacts:
    Mike Boden               Daniele Frechette
    IBM Media Relations      Dossier de sante du Quebec
    416-478-7117             514-597-2058 #5965
    [email protected]        [email protected]



    

For further information: Mike Boden of IBM Media Relations, [phone], [email protected] or Daniele Frechette of Dossier de sante du Quebec, [phone] #5965, [email protected] Web Site: http://www.ibm.com