Barco enhances diagnostic confidence with a unique online service for Quality Assurance of PACS display systems
RSNA, Chicago, IL, USA, 27 November 2006 - At this year's RSNA meeting, Medical imaging specialist Barco will showcase the industry's first online service for high-grade Quality Assurance of PACS display systems. The new service, called 'MediCal QAWeb', is specifically designed to guarantee maximum uptime and diagnostic confidence throughout healthcare facilities without the need for an upfront investment. MediCal QAWeb incorporates a wide array of functions for automated DICOM calibration and Quality Assurance, effortless display asset management, remote problem solving and easy reporting. With this all-inclusive solution, Barco responds to the increasing reliance on softcopy imaging technology for critical decision-making.
MediCal QAWeb has been developed to optimize the availability and DICOM-precision of PACS display systems in every hospital reading room. Hospitals can easily set up the system by adding a MediCal QAWeb Relay to their Picture Archiving and Communications System. Once installed, the system will permanently monitor all display systems throughout the facility to ensure maximum availability and compliance with DIN-6868-57, AAPM TG18 or other regional quality guidelines. DICOM calibration and QA tasks are performed automatically in the background without interrupting the daily radiology reading practice. If an issue should occur, the system will instantly notify the right person.The MediCal QAWeb architecture further incorporates a central MediCal QAWeb Server that provides a wide range of remote capabilities. The server-based system allows users to easily log in from anywhere inside or outside the hospital to check the status of every display, or to add one or more additional displays. In case of an issue, users can immediately access the MediCal QAWeb Server to undertake all necessary corrective actions or download the required data. This MediCal QAWeb Server resides in a secured environment hosted by Barco.
Even though MediCal QAWeb is an online service, it adheres to very strict and rigorous security standards and complies with HIPAA regulations. To achieve this level of security, the system uses the MediCal QAWeb Relay as a central point for all data that is sent from the medical facility towards the MediCal QAWeb Server. The MediCal QAWeb Relay communicates with the Server over a secure HTTPS connection. It does not transmit any Personal Health Information.
MediCal QAWeb offers a cost-efficient solution that fits the needs of any healthcare facility, regardless of size. A simple pay-as-you-go fee guarantees the continuous quality and performance of all PACS display systems without requiring any upfront investment. The service comes in three service levels: Essential, Advanced and Premium. 'Essential' provides a basic feature set for QA and remote support and includes a 2-year warranty. The 'Advanced' level features more advanced capabilities for Quality Assurance and asset management. It also incorporates extended remote support functions and includes a 3-year warranty. The 'Premium' service level includes a full array of advanced services for asset management, remote support and extensive reporting. What's more, the 'Premium' level includes high-grade hardware services, such as a single-swap, color-matched display replacement on the next business day in the event of a hardware failure. The 'Premium' level offers a 3-year warranty.
About Barco
Barco, a global technology company headquartered in Kortrijk, Belgium, designs and develops visualization products for a variety of professional markets. Barco has its own facilities for Sales & Marketing, Customer Support, R&D and Manufacturing in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific.
For fiscal year 2005, Barco posted net sales of euro 712.0 million.
Barco's ordinary shares are listed on the Brussels/Euronext stock exchange. Barco is a BEL 20 and a Next 150 company. Share information may be accessed on Bloomberg under the symbol BAR BB and on Reuters under BARBt.BR.
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