GREENVILLE, S.C., Aug. 6, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fe Imaging (SFI ), the preeminent provider of diagnostic imaging and interventional radiology in northern New Mexico, implemented eRAD RIS as the core of its new operational strategy.
eRAD, a subsidiary of RadNet, Inc. (Nasdaq: RDNT ), a leading provider of standards-based, web-centric radiology image and data management solutions, provided a RIS solution that significantly improves SFI's workflow efficiency—and business opportunities.
"Initially, the driver was Meaningful Use. The window for incentives was closing, and we aimed to get it done in four months," said Ed Field, Director of Imaging Services for SFI. "We had confidence in eRAD, knowing that they've helped many practices and physicians attest, so we knew we had a solution-oriented partner with access to the right resources to get the job done."
After following eRAD's roadmap for Meaningful Use attestation, SFI leveraged the system to streamline its workflow. "We're reaping a lot of other benefits, especially in EMR integration," said Field. "You need a lean, smart system to handle that. Our goal is to integrate ten practices in the next year, and eRAD makes that easy to do. We've already had seven offices contacting us about it, and we're only three weeks in."
In addition to tighter communication with its customers, SFI has more efficient connections among its internal sites. "We can set up a standard workflow among our distributed sites. That puts us in a position to grow and expand. We have opportunities that we couldn't consider before because of our IT infrastructure. Now we are nimble enough to respond to an opportunity. In outpatient world, you lose deals if you don't move quickly," Field said.
That increased efficiency extends to departments within SFI. "Every department—scheduling, medical records, registration—was in its own silo before," said Field. "eRAD is so simple to use that now everyone in my building can schedule. In less than a month, I have a three FTE (full-time equivalent) reduction. Rules that were only in a scheduler's brain are now built into the system. Plus, we can tweak those rules ourselves. It's designed to be managed without a lot of IT intervention. That's essential for any imaging center that doesn't have a huge IT department. Configuration changes have to be easy, and with eRAD they are."
Seth Koeppel, Senior Vice-President of Sales for eRAD, said, "Many sites like SFI are finding that their existing RIS no longer meets their needs in this challenging and competitive market. We're responding to that need and offering more than just a RIS. We offer a complete workflow solution."
"There's no one in our facility who doesn't touch the RIS," said Field. "It's the heart of the operation; it's a workflow engine. We're not just changing what we do today, we're looking at how we can strategize going forward."
Field added: "eRAD is an excellent organization. Truly they embody the partnership model, and there are so few vendors that do."
About Santa Fe Imaging
Santa Fe Imaging is Northern New Mexico's most experienced and capable diagnostic imaging and interventional radiology provider. SFI is a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence—a distinction awarded by the American College of Radiology only to breast imaging centers that achieve excellence and accreditation in mammography, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, and Stereotactic Breast Biopsy. SFI's expertise covers all areas of Radiology, including MRI, CT, ultrasound, bone densitometry, MRA, virtual colonoscopy, and interventional radiology.
For more information, visit www.santafeimaging.com .
Contact:
Ed Field, Director of Imaging Services
505-955-8702 | EField@SantaFeImaging.com
About eRAD, Inc.
eRAD offers a complete suite of workflow solutions for the imaging industry. Its Meaningful Use-ready RIS, web-based PACS, and multi-site workflow solutions are used by teleradiology businesses, specialty reading groups, multi-site reading groups, hospitals and outpatient imaging centers. With over 300 customers in the U.S. and several other countries, eRAD's solutions are available as cloud-based hosted solutions, or as in-house enterprise solutions.
For more information, visit erad.com .
Contact:
Seth Koeppel, SVP Sales
617-821-4175 | skoeppel@erad.com
About RadNet, Inc.
RadNet, Inc. is the leading national provider of freestanding, fixed-site diagnostic imaging services in the United States based on the number of locations and annual imaging revenue. RadNet has a network of 250 owned and/or operated outpatient-imaging centers. RadNet's core markets include California, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island. Together with affiliated radiologists, and inclusive of full-time and per diem employees and technologists, RadNet has a total of approximately 6,000 employees.
