Tokyo, May 16, 2001---
Fujitsu Limited and GE Medical Systems (GEMS), the medical equipment business sector of General Electric Company (GE) today announced that both companies have signed a basic agreement to form an alliance in the area of medical information systems in Japan.
This alliance allows Fujitsu, the leading global provider of Internet-focused IT solutions and Japan's market leader in medical information systems, and GEMS, the world's leading manufacturer in diagnostic imaging systems and Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS), to provide hospitals and other medical institutions nationwide with integrated clinical imaging solutions that address customers' needs.
Integrated clinical imaging solutions both companies will offer will integrate PACS with related information management systems within a hospital, such as Radiology Information Systems (RIS).
Both companies will continue to examine the possibility of broader partnership in other solutions in the area of medical information systems.
Current medical information systems primarily consist of Hospital Information Systems (HIS) that manage patient reservation and accounting, PACS that stores images obtained by diagnostic imaging systems including Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance (MR) and Ultrasound (US), and RIS. However, most of these systems have not been integrated due partly to different interfaces of the equipment.
Along with the approval of storing patient information on an electronic format by the former Ministry of Health and Welfare in 1999, there are growing needs to develop a medical system using information technology that integrates the information of medical images and patients' clinical data with other information including accounting. Such integrated medical systems include what is called Electric Patient Record (EPR). Given these circumstances, Fujitsu and GEMS, leaders in HIS and PACS respectively, have agreed to show their prompt commitment to growing the medical information systems market by developing integrated systems with their leading-edge products and technologies in order to meet customers' needs.
Reflecting the importance of the medical care field as part of the e-Japan initiative that aims to utilize IT to enrich the lives of Japanese citizens in the coming broadband era, Fujitsu and GEMS intend to broaden their alliance and extend their collaborative efforts in the future to provide Japanese hospitals and other medical institutions with superior products and comprehensive services.
Note:
- 1. PACS: Picture Archiving and Communication System
- PACS is a sort of database system to electronically store, retrieve and analyze images obtained by diagnostic imaging systems including CT and MRI.
- 2. RIS: Radiology Information System
- RIS is a system to manage information including patient reservation, inventory management, result of diagnosis and reporting in radiological department.
- 3. HIS: Hospital Information System
- A system for processing comprehensive hospital information, including patient prescriptions, appointment reservations, clinical and diagnostic data, and accounting information.
- 4. CT: Computed Tomography.
- A radiographic technique that produces an image that presents a detailed cross section of tissue structure.
- 5. MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- MRI is an imaging technique used primarily in medical settings to produce high quality images of inside of the human body. Among its advantages are superior soft tissue contrast resolution, ability to image in multiple planes, and lack of ionizing radiation hazards.
About Fujitsu
Fujitsu is a leading provider of Internet-focused information technology solutions for the global marketplace. Its pace-setting technologies, best-in-class computing and telecommunications platforms, and worldwide corps of systems and services experts make it uniquely positioned to unleash the infinite possibilities of the Internet to help its customers succeed. Headquartered in Tokyo, Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 5.48 trillion yen for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2001.
Internet: http://www.fujitsu.com/
About GE
General Electric Company (GE) is a diversified services, technology and manufacturing company with a commitment to achieving customer success and worldwide leadership in each of its businesses. GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs 313,000 people worldwide. John F. Welch has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GE since 1981. Jeffrey R. Immelt was named President and Chairman-Elect of GE in November 2000. Revenues $129.9 billion in 2000, headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut.
In Japan, GE has more than 40 operations or joint ventures since 1886. Revenues about 1,000 billion yen, employs over 17,000 people.
For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.ge.com.
About GE Medical Systems
GE Medical Systems (GEMS) is a $7.2 billion global leader in medical information and technology. Its offerings include networking and productivity tools, healthcare information systems, patient monitoring systems, X-ray, CT, MR, ultrasound, PET, and nuclear medicine. GEMS owns two local companies in Japan: GE Yokogawa Medical Systems and GE Marquette Medical Systems Japan. GE Yokogawa employs 1,573 people as of April 1st, 2001. Its revenue totals to 117.8 billion yen for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2000. With 350 employees, GE Marquette Medical Systems Japan reported revenues of 12.3 billion yen for its fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2000
GE Medical Systems Information Technologies is a $1 billion global leader in providing solutions for the reliable and efficient acquisition, analysis and management of patient data in healthcare facilities around the world. The company's offering includes cardiology, patient monitoring, image management, clinical information systems and consultative services. GE Medical Systems Information Technologies is a GE Medical Systems Company with global headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
For more information, visit the GE Medical Systems Web site at gemedicalsystems.com.
###
All company/product names mentioned may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders and are used for identification purposes only.
|