Aspyra (Calabasas, California) is demonstrating the latest release of AccessRAD, its RIS/PACS product, at this week's Radiology Business Management Association 2009 Radiology Summit in Orlando. AccessRAD RIS/PACS is designed to meet the needs of acute-care hospitals, enterprise-wide delivery networks, and medium-to-large imaging centers, with end-to-end solutions that automate processes at every point of patient and imaging encounter workflow. As the demand for imaging procedure volume increases, reimbursements decrease, and the demand for quick report turnaround times increases, a radiologist must read more studies in less time. To improve efficiencies, AccessRAD Version 6.4 contains new features and enhancements to increase productivity by requiring fewer workflow steps, more advanced hanging profiles and better presentation of relevant patient data.

Healthcare Data Services (HDS; Boston) reported the release of the HDS Expert, a "highly integrated" data management service that it said provides "unlimited customization capabilities and superior technical support in the managed care field." The HDS said the HDS Expert service package "ensures that the high-level data technologies offered through the company's HDS Analyst software package work efficiently and effectively within any customized solution." HDS Analyst "extrapolates and organizes vital healthcare and financial data from limitless sources and provides every client with flexible, needs-based reporting systems that effectively measure and analyze data to improve healthcare quality and cut costs," according to the company. HDS Expert provides decision support through the isolation of differences in payer contracts to highlight benefits of contract changes. It is also able to identify favorable provider/vendor rates to increase success in future targeted campaigns. An analysis of make vs. buy scenarios can be presented to help facilitate a meaningful decision, while also providing for informed decision making and the collection and utilization of viable data to enable real-time information capacity.

Idaho Technology (Salt Lake City) said it has received the support of the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC) for use of the Platinum Path Extraction Kit (PPEK) with the Joint Biological Agent Identification and Diagnostic System (JBAIDS). "The PPEK kit is designed to handle dozens of different sample types, replacing the need for multiple specialized kits. In addition, it offers vast improvements and efficiencies over previous sample preparation methods. Our kit results in a clean sample ready for analysis in less than 30 minutes, two to three times as fast as some other methods," said Deepika de Silva, vice president of biochemistry for Idaho Technology. Developed under the direction and cooperation of the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense-Chemical Biological Medical Systems Joint Project Management Office, the PPEK will provide a significant cost savings across all service branches through the elimination of redundant sample preparation kits. The Platinum Path Extraction Kit reduces the annual extraction kit costs by 42% and represents an 80% reduction in the logistics footprint. Additionally, the Platinum Path kit reduces the training requirement by as much as 20%, while delivering increased operational effectiveness and suitability when compared to the currently fielded five extraction kits.