WILKES REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER INSTALLS NEW X-RAY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

3/16/2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tammy G. Love

Director of Marketing & Medical Staff Development

Phone: (336) 651-8116

Wilkes Regional Medical Center, North Wilkesboro, NC - In a major move toward innovation and efficiency, Wilkes Regionals Radiology Department has installed new equipment that eliminates the need for X-ray film, a growing trend in medical facilities across the nation.

Known as PACS (Picture Archiving & Communications System), the new system processes X-rays digitally so they can be viewed on the radiologists' computer screens using high-resolution monitoring software. The equipment allows the radiologist to download the patient's X-rays and choose key images to transmit to the patient's doctor. Those key images are set in a montage, along with a voice clip, which is an audio conclusion of the radiologist's exam. Next, the images are saved, archived, and can be retrived by physicians from any location via the Internet. PACS is a new technology that hospitals are using to improve the management of patient information, and to provide greater clinical quality.

The PACS purchased by Wilkes Regional was manufactured by San Diego-based DR Systems, Inc., the nation's largest independent provider of film less, computerized medical image and information management systems for hospitals, imaging centers and integrated health care systems.