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Fletcher Allen Health Care Selects McKesson Radiology Technology as Enterprise Imaging Solution

State-of-the-Art "Digital" Technology to Lower Costs and Enhance Patient Care

Fletcher Allen Health Care, the largest healthcare system in Vermont and the state's only academic health center, has selected McKesson's market-leading Horizon Medical Imaging™ picture archiving and communication system (PACS) for medical imaging throughout the enterprise as well as in its new $380 million ambulatory care center. This state-of-the-art "digital" technology is designed to enable faster access to patient medical images and diagnostic reports for radiologists and referring physicians in the community, enhancing their ability to make faster, more informed treatment decisions. The PACS technology also will enable Fletcher Allen to reduce costs and operate more efficiently by significantly reducing the use of paper and film. Fletcher Allen will install McKesson's system on 500 workstations both in the new facility and across the enterprise.

"With 40 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, Fletcher Allen has a strong focus on ambulatory case profiles. Our radiology department has a total volume of 300,000 procedures annually," said Dr. Steven Braff, professor and interim chairman, department of radiology, Fletcher Allen. "Our complex workflow could not be sufficiently automated by a traditional PACS system on its own. Our physicians were impressed by the features of Horizon Medical Imaging, including strong ultrasound capabilities, integrated 3D image viewing, and integrated PACS-based reporting and communication tools."

"We selected McKesson's Horizon Medical Imaging because it was the best solution to meet our specific environment, and because McKesson is a recognized leader in the imaging industry," said John K. Evans, Fletcher Allen's chief technology officer. "We were also impressed by the workflow analysis and re-engineering, training, implementation and customer support services that McKesson provides to its customers. Horizon Medical Imaging will meet the needs of our physicians and help us improve the efficiency and quality of care we provide to our patients."

Evans expects to realize significant cost savings by eliminating the expense of managing film throughout the health system. Fletcher Allen will use the PACS to store and distribute images from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), multi-slice computed tomography (CT), ultrasound, nuclear medicine, mammography, angiography, computed radiography (CR), digital radiography (DR) and positron emission tomography (PET).

"We are excited to have been selected by Fletcher Allen, the premier healthcare system in Vermont, to provide medical imaging solutions in its new ambulatory care center and throughout its facilities," said Rod O'Reilly, vice president and general manager of McKesson's Medical Imaging Group. "Like many of our customers, Fletcher Allen recognizes that Horizon Medical Imaging can strengthen and enhance its ability to carry out its mission of patient care and service to the community."

Horizon Medical Imaging is part of McKesson's Horizon Radiology(TM) integrated medical image and information management solution, which combines reporting and scheduling with anytime, anywhere access to the complete patient record. Horizon Radiology eliminates steps and increases the speed of the entire diagnostic process, from ordering a procedure to distributing reports to the referring physician.

About Fletcher Allen Health Care

Fletcher Allen Health Care, based in Burlington, Vt., was founded in 1995, through the integration of Fanny Allen Hospital, Medical Center Hospital of Vermont and University Health Center. Serving a population of more than 1 million, Fletcher Allen includes more than 40 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics in Vermont and northern New York. The private, publicly supported integrated healthcare system features a medical staff of 700 physicians and a nursing staff of more than 1,200 registered nurses.

About McKesson

McKesson Corporation is a Fortune 15 healthcare services and information technology company dedicated to helping its customers deliver high-quality healthcare by reducing costs, streamlining processes, and improving the quality and safety of patient care. Over the course of its 172-year history, McKesson has grown by providing pharmaceutical and medical-surgical supply management across the spectrum of care; healthcare information technology for hospitals, physicians, homecare and payors; hospital and retail pharmacy automation; and services for manufacturers and payors designed to improve outcomes for patients. For more information: http://www.mckesson.com

Distributed by Market Wire