CERN has big share of DIN-PACS contract
In doing some research on another company involved in the DIN-PACS contract, I stumbled across Cerner and reviewed the comments on this thread and did some dd on the financials. Thereafter, I thought it may be a good buy for the long term, hopefully, not as long as Gary's holding period of 9 years.
Here is some information I found on Cerner's web site, linking them to the DIN-PACS project (estimated to be a $5 billion + project)
Cerner Corporation has been selected as one of two official
radiology information system suppliers for the U.S. Department of
Defense's Digital Imaging Network-Picture Archiving
Communication System (DIN-PACS) program. The selection is
based on Cerner's demonstrated ability to integrate its RadNet
Radiology Information System with product offerings from AGFA,
which was one of only two prime contractors awarded a
DIN-PACS contract. When installed, the combined solution of
Cerner's RadNet and AGFA's PACS will be an integrated
approach to managing patient information, departmental
processes, and electronic diagnostic images.
What is the significance of Cerner's relationship with Agfa for the
DIN-PACS program?
Cerner believes its involvement in the DIN-PACS program
will start slowly, and then ramp up substantially over the
five-year period. The D.O.D. has set an aggressive goal of
acquiring a DIN-PACS at each of 500 sites over the next
five years, and now must secure funding for those projects.
As funding is secured, each site will choose one of the two
prime contractors, and Cerner's involvement should ramp
up quickly.
How many Department of Defense sites will be involved?
The Military Health Services System has over 100 hospitals
and more than 400 clinics that will be potential sites for
DIN-PACS projects. Nearly all of those sites currently
have a radiology information system in place that will be
replaced as part of the DIN-PACS initiative.
What other subcontractors has Agfa selected for DIN-PACS
projects? How does Cerner fit in?
Cerner and Agfa are the two primary suppliers of the
information technology that will automate the D.O.D's
diagnostic imaging processes. Cabletron Systems Inc. will
be providing some communications network components.
Mitra Imaging Inc. provides an interface device with
software that converts messages between the two
communications standards (HL7 and DICOM) used in the
DIN-PACS system.
Agfa was one of two primary contractors for DIN-PACS. Who
was the other primary contractor?
IBM is the other primary contractor for the DIN-PACS
program.
What PACS suppliers does Cerner work with?
Cerner has successfully integrated RadNet with many of the
world's leading PACS suppliers, including Agfa, Siemens,
Cemax-Icon, and IMNET.
How long has Cerner been working with PACS integration?
Cerner has been working with PACS integration to RadNet
for about two years. At this time, Cerner has six clients with
interface capabilities between Cerner's RadNet Radiology
Information System and a third-party PACS supplier. Of
these six clients, three are live and three are currently in
implementation. Of these six clients, three are in Cerner's
Health Network Architecture (HNA) Millennium
client/server environment, and three are in Cerner's HNA
Classic mainframe-based environment.
What is RadNet?
RadNet, Cerner's electronic radiology practice solution, is
the most complete radiology management system for total
radiology process automation. RadNet automates
departmental operations such as patient registration, order
entry, exam tracking, film tracking, transcription, electronic
signatures, and report distribution. |
