UPMC Named as One of Top 10 U.S. Hospitals for Innovation in Digital Image and Information Management

PITTSBURGH, October 30, 2003 The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) has been named as one of the top 10 hospitals in the United States for innovation in digital image and information management by Health Imaging & IT magazine.

The Top 10 list, which is published in the October issue of Health Imaging & IT, includes some of the largest, most prestigious health care institutions in the United States, as well as smaller specialty facilities, which also have exemplified a dedication to implementing IT to maximize patient care.

We are delighted to be recognized as one of the leading hospitals in the country in the field of medical digital imaging management. We believe our successful transition from film based medical imaging to a digital system has positively impacted on patient care efficiency, accuracy and quality by allowing immediate and cost effective access to medical images throughout UPMC. Much of the credit for this accomplishment belongs to the many hard working and demanding health care providers at UPMC. From the beginning of our project, these individuals have taught us that medical software must be optimized to the needs of the users, not the other way around, said Paul J. Chang, M.D., director, radiology informatics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Being named to the list is a great honor. Radiology imaging is a critical component of our patient care and we have worked hard to implement it in a way that provides the most benefit to our clinicians and ultimately to our patients. It is another indication that UPMC continues to be a leader in the use of information technology to improve clinical care, said Duane Falk, client services manager for clinical systems in UPMCs Information Services Division.

The nominations for this years survey came from a database of more than 10,000 health care business and clinical professionals, including radiologists, cardiologists, CIOs, technologists, vendors and industry consultants. Their submissions formed the basis for the survey, which are conducted annually. A team from Health Imaging & IT then analyzed surveys completed by each facility, based on criteria such as: the percentage of radiology and cardiology imaging cases that are digital; number of physicians with online access to digital images; percentage of an imaging departments operating budget and capital budget used for IT and peripherals; and the number of employees dedicated to IT functions.

More details on each facility and a more in-depth look at the results are in the October issue of Health Imaging & IT magazine or visit www.healthimaging.com. Health Imaging & IT is published monthly and reports on medical imaging and information technologies throughout the health care enterprise.