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Ohio State Veterinary Hospital Converts X-Ray Department to Filmless Environment Using Eklin Technology

Posted on: Monday, 17 January 2005, 09:00 CST

COLUMBUS, Ohio and SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The Veterinary Teaching Hospital at The Ohio State University, one of the nation's leading veterinary teaching hospitals, today announced the hospital has converted its entire X-ray department from film to digital imaging. Using technology from Eklin Medical Systems, a leader in digital radiography (DR) and image management, the hospital has installed three of Eklin's EDR3 (one which will be used by the OSU Equine Field Service for field exams) and two EDR6 RapidStudy DR systems with an additional EDR5 system to be installed later this month. In addition, 13 workstations with Eklin's state-of-the-art PACS (Picture Archiving and Communications System) were installed which will allow on-line integration of a patient's DR images with all other digitally-based images such as MRI, ultrasound, CT, and nuclear medicine.

"We believe we are one of the first veterinary teaching hospitals to convert to a completely filmless X-ray environment and are excited by this major enhancement to our ongoing efforts in providing the best patient care available," said Richard Bednarski, DVM, MS, ACVA diplomate and director of the hospital. "Now with immediate access to the patient's entire radiography exam, we can make diagnosis much faster and begin treatment sooner which equates to even better patient care. In addition, digital radiography should enhance our ability to communicate with our referring veterinarians more quickly."

Just as digital cameras have made photography more efficient and affordable by eliminating film, Eklin's DR systems provide the veterinarian with an X-ray image that can be viewed immediately on a high-resolution monitor without need for film developing. The Eklin DR system provides the user with sophisticated image processing tools, giving the veterinarian much greater depth of information that can be enlarged for far better detail. Initially introduced for equine radiography using a high-resolution 9" x 11" detector, the Eklin RapidStudy DR system offers the only full-size 14" x 17" active area detector available in veterinary medicine for imaging all animals. Images can be stored and archived for future evaluation using the Eklin PACS which is based on DICOM standards.

The Veterinary Teaching Hospital at The Ohio State University is the only comprehensive referral veterinary teaching hospital in Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia. As a comprehensive referral center for veterinary practitioners, the hospital is an integral part of the College of Veterinary Medicine at The Ohio State University, and is among the largest facilities of its kind in the world, with more than 35,000 large and small animals examined each year. Along with emergency and primary care services, the hospital offers state-of-the-art care in orthopedic and soft tissue surgery, oncology, ophthalmology, reproduction, neurology, urology, gastroenterology, critical care medicine, cardiology, dermatology, anesthesiology and radiology.

"The conversion to Eklin's DR systems and PACS further demonstrates our commitment to outstanding patient care," said John Mattoon, DVM, ACVR diplomate and head of the hospital's radiology department. "The conversion to digital was implemented with relative ease. In addition, the workflow efficiencies we now have gained from this conversion are unparalleled which will allow us to significantly increase both patient services and volume."

The two EDR6 RapidStudy systems for small animals were installed in each of the hospital's existing Summit and GE X-ray tables. Installed along with the EDR6 and the three EDR3 systems (for large animals) were 13 workstations, five of which included dual monitors, and a one Terabyte PACS server with DICOM compliant software. Other modalities, such as CT, were subsequently connected and operationally integrated using Eklin's Digital Practice Management System. All system installations and application training were completed within the last week of December with only the EDR5 system currently awaiting installation later in the month.

"This is one of the largest installations we have completed to date," said Gary R. Cantu, president and CEO of Eklin Medical Systems. "Ohio State Veterinary Hospital is one of the most prestigious teaching hospitals in the world. We are pleased we are able to provide a complete digital imaging and image management solution for this center of excellence's radiology and information needs."

About Ohio State Veterinary Hospital

The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine is recognized as a pioneer and leader for its interdisciplinary teaching curriculum and programs in education and research. The hospital is among the largest facilities of its kind in the world, with more than 35,000 large and small animals examined each year. Along with emergency service, the hospital offers state-of-the-art care in orthopedic and soft tissue surgery, oncology, ophthalmology, reproduction, neurology, urology, gastroenterology, critical care medicine, cardiology, dermatology, anesthesiology and radiology. For further information, visit http://www.vet.osu.edu/.

About Eklin Medical Systems, Inc.

Eklin Medical Systems, Inc. is the world's leader in digital radiography and image management for the veterinary care market. The company focuses on applications where speed, portability, and increased practice efficiency are critically important. Eklin is a privately-held company headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., and can be contacted at 408-744-9251 or visit http://www.eklin.com/.

NOTE: Eklin RapidStudy and Eklin.Net are trademarks of Eklin Medical Systems, Inc. Other products and company names are the trademarks of their respective owners.

Eklin Medical Systems, Inc.

CONTACT: Melissa Lamb of Peale of College of Veterinary Medicine, TheOhio State University, +1-614-292-3752, or lamb-peale.1@osu.edu; or LaurieHallwyler of Eklin Medical Systems, +1-650-248-9081, or lhallwyler@eklin.com

Web site: http://www.vet.osu.edu/

Web site: http://www.eklin.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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