GE Medical Systems Information Technologies installs first bilingual filmless radiology imaging solution in Middle East

GE's Centricity(TM) RIS/PACS (Radiology Information System/ Picture Archiving and Communication System) technology is the first bilingual system, functioning in both English and Arabic, to be installed in a Middle East healthcare centre, while also making the state-of-the-art hospital virtually paperless and filmless.

UNC is now approximately 85 percent digital, enabling physicians to access and review patients' diagnostic images and information electronically and make quick and sound care decisions. The newly implemented bilingual system will greatly increase efficiency of the healthcare facility by providing integrated patient information such as demographics, reports, orders and images at one desktop.

Commenting on the newly-equipped unit, Dr Mohamed Ghoneim, Founder of UNC, said: "We opted for GE's Centricity system as it provides all the radiology information a physician needs at one workstation. Our radiologists can now view images within seconds rather than hours or even days."

Dr Ghoneim added: "Patients have already started benefiting from the advanced technology we have invested in; the time needed for diagnosis of an illness has been dramatically reduced, making for more rapid treatment."

GE's Centricity(TM) RIS/PACS system optimises digital workflow within the radiology department by providing a common infrastructure for data storage and image distribution.

The UNC is a state-of-the-art hospital equipped with the most advanced technology. The hospital is taking a leadership position in the adoption and utilization of healthcare information technology to provide their patients with the best available care and clinical performance. As part of its efforts to acquire the latest technology, UNC has chosen GE Medical Systems Information Technologies as its clinical IT partner.

"We are dedicated to providing our patients with the best care and therefore we decided to replace our former system. With GE we have found a partner that is as much committed to our vision as we are and dedicated to the completion of this challenging project," added Dr Ghoneim.

In addition to the medical benefits the new system brings, GE's filmless technology also significantly reduces the costs associated with retrieving films from information archives.

Wael Khalil, Sales Manager, Information Systems - GE Medical Systems Information Technologies, Middle East and Africa, said of the new partnership: "We are proud of our role in increasing the efficiency of UNC and making it one of the most advanced healthcare facilities in the Middle East by seamlessly integrating patient information. Responsible for more than 75,000 examinations each year, UNC will significantly benefit from GE's latest technology, which was especially tailored to meet the hospital's needs."

In addition to the system's standard features, GE was able to successfully meet UNC's specific requirements by collaborating with Open-Soft, a specialist in Patient Information Systems. The new GE system was successfully integrated into the existing Patient Information System, a unique feature worldwide, delivering a totally seamless healthcare solution for the medical facility.