GE and Fujitsu in Alliance to Integrate Medical Imaging

An alliance to provide hospitals and other medical centers in Japan with integrated clinical imaging information systems has been announced by GE Medical Systems (Waukesha, WI, USA) and Fujitsu Limited (Tokyo, Japan).

Current medical information systems primarily consist of a hospital information system (HIS) that manages patient reservation and accounting; PACS that stores images obtained by computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR), and ultrasound; and the radiology information system (RIS). However, most of these systems have not been integrated, due partly to different interfaces of the equipment.

The new alliance will allow Fujitsu, an important provider of Internet-focused information technology (IT) solutions, and GE, an important manufacturer of diagnostic imaging systems and PACS, to provide integrated clinical imaging solutions that address this problem and meet customers' needs. Such solutions are intended to save time, improve treatment, and help to reduce costs. One solution to be offered by both companies integrates PACS with related information management systems within a hospital, such as HIS and RIS. Both companies will continue to examine the possibility of a broader partnership in other solutions in the area of medical information systems.