August 7, 2008 - Canada Health Infoway (Infoway) has negotiated preferential conditions and pricing with GE Healthcare Canada through a Preferred Solution Agreement for their Centricity PACS and diagnostic imaging repository, as the Canadian government works to improve access to patient information.
Through an Infoway project investment, British Columbia's Interior Health Authority demonstrated an overall average 41 per cent decrease in turnaround time for radiology results since the implementation of PACS. Similar technology provided by GE Healthcare at the province’s Fraser Health Authority uncovered millions in annual cost savings by reducing film costs and storage space and increasing productivity. By 2010, Canadians will benefit from improved radiology services made possible by digital diagnostic imaging in all provinces and territories.
A key element of the Canada-wide agreement is preferential pricing for jurisdictions who implement a shared service where several hospitals agree to use a common PACS and diagnostic imaging repository infrastructure. GE Healthcare's commitment to adhere to pan-Canadian standards, and applicable privacy and security requirements, is covered in the agreement.
The Canada-wide agreement will help accelerate the implementation of electronic health records, making it simpler for provinces and territories to acquire a diagnostic imaging solution. GE Healthcare Canada joins Agfa Healthcare, Christie Group Ltd., McKesson Information Solutions, and Philips Healthcare as preferred solution providers for diagnostic imaging.
At the end of fiscal 2007/08, Infoway invested $316 million in 21 diagnostic imaging projects, currently completed or still in progress, across eight provinces and one territory. This is part of 254 electronic health record projects, representing $1.457 billion in investment since Infoway's inception.
For more information: www.infoway-inforoute.ca
July 25, 2024 
