NLIS 37
March 27, 2003
(Health and Community Services)

 


Further funding for PACS

Health and Community Services Minister Gerald Smith today announced a $5 million investment to continue implementation of the Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS) in the province. This funding is part of the $26 million medical and diagnostic equipment fund.

The allocation in Budget 2003 is as follows:

  • Western Health Care Corporation: $1.9 million
  • Health Care Corporation of St. John�s: $2 million
  • Health Labrador Corporation: $750,000
  • Central East Health Care Institutions Board: $300,000
  • Grenfell Regional Health Services Board: $100,000

"These investments build on the province�s existing information technology resources and will allow the province to further improve services to patients through secure, well-managed technology," said Minister Smith. "PACS enables diagnostic images to be stored, transferred, and managed through computers and computer networks. Essentially, the images travel to the medical specialist, which reduces travel time for patients and allows for improved access to diagnostic services in the province."

PACS involves computerized management and distribution of diagnostic images such as X-rays, MRI, and ultrasounds. The PACS technology enables these images to be transferred electronically between sites almost instantaneously, thus improving access to care for the people of this province. For example, if a patient is brought to an emergency room where a radiologist is not available, the diagnostic images can be transmitted electronically to a site where a radiologist is present. This technology enables patients to be stabilized within their local environment and can shorten the wait time for diagnosis and treatment. The PACS technology also helps hospitals retrieve images faster and reduces storage space requirements.

The first PACS system in the province was implemented in 1999 at the Central East Health Care Institutions Board. Grenfell Regional Health Services Board implemented a PACS system in 2001. In 2002, the province completed implementing PACS technology in four additional boards: Central West Health Corporation, Peninsulas Health Care Corporation, Avalon Health Care Institutions Board, and Health Care Corporation of St. John�s, Janeway site at a total cost of $6.9 million. A portion of this investment, $2.7 million, was from the Canadian Health Infostructure Partnership Program (CHIPP).

Media contact: Diane Keough, Communications, (709) 729-1377

2003 03 27                                        4:20 p.m.


SearchHomeBack to GovernmentContact Us


All material copyright the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. No unauthorized copying or redeployment permitted. The Government assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any material deployed on an unauthorized server.
Disclaimer/Copyright/Privacy Statement