IMPAX Data Center integrates with existing picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) in multiple clinical departments and facilities, allowing the USAF to visualize, or image-enable, its electronic health record (EHR) and consolidating clinical patient data into a single archive, accessible from the point of care. Compliant with the DICOM 3.0 and HL7 standards and the IHE Technical Framework standards for storage, IMPAX Data Center can integrate with any DICOM 3.0 standards-based PACS.

The management of clinical imaging data from multiple sites and facilities is challenging because each location typically chooses its own PACS to meet its specific technology and workflow needs. Multi-site organizations often must deal with fragmented data that is "locked in" to disparate departmental data silos and therefore only accessible to users at that site. IMPAX Data Center allows an organization to create a shared "system of record" for the complete patient imaging history, consolidating imaging records from many sources and providing longitudinal access to this information.

"With multiple medical sites and an extremely mobile patient base, it's critical that all Air Force medical staff have access to all patient images and related information, regardless of the facility or department or origin," said Tom Lewis, Director, Air Force PACS Office. "IMPAX Data Center will allow physicians at our medical treatment facilities to access patient imaging data that was acquired its other sites."

In addition to enhanced delivery of patient care, IMPAX Data Center will result in cost savings associated with operating and maintaining multiple PACS. It can reduce the cost of maintaining multiple departmental image archives and the expensive and time-consuming data migrations associated with periodic PACS and infrastructure replacements.

The IMPAX Data Center archiving solution is part of the USAF's strategy to create a truly integrated global healthcare delivery system. The USAF plans to ultimately connect all of its medical treatment facilities to a global IMPAX Data Center model.

"The Air Force and other branches of the armed services are pioneering the use of technology to meet the challenges of medical imaging in a complex multi-site healthcare environment," said Tim Artz, Global Government Program Director Agfa HealthCare. "Healthcare networks in the private sector that face similar challenges can look to the Air Force as a leader in creating a more efficient and cost-effective healthcare system."

Agfa HealthCare has developed a strong presence in U.S. military and VA hospitals and medical treatment facilities, which use its digital radiography solutions (CR), its IMPAX image management solutions and its speech recognition solutions. The company's technology is installed in more than 160 military and VA facilities, including 14 sites in Europe, five of the VA's multi-facility Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs), and more than 30 Navy ships.

About Agfa
The Agfa-Gevaert Group is one of the world’s leading companies in imaging and information technology. Agfa develops, manufactures and markets analogue and digital systems for the printing industry (Agfa Graphics), for the healthcare sector (Agfa Healthcare), and for specific industrial applications (Agfa Materials). Agfa is headquartered in Mortsel, Belgium. The company is present in 40 countries and has agents in another 100 countries around the globe. The Agfa-Gevaert Group achieved a turnover of 3,032 million Euro in 2008.

About Agfa HealthCare
Agfa HealthCare, a member of the Agfa-Gevaert Group, is a leading provider of IT-enabled clinical workflow and diagnostic image management solutions, and state-of-the-art systems for capturing and processing images in hospitals and healthcare facilities. Agfa HealthCare has over a century of healthcare experience related to diagnostic imaging and has been a pioneer on the healthcare IT market since the early 1990's. The business group has sales offices and agents in over 100 markets worldwide. Sales for Agfa HealthCare in 2008 were 1,223 million Euro.