Radiologix 'REWARD' Initiative Goes Live in New York State; REWARD Will Enhance Service to Patients and Referring Physicians

Radiologix 'REWARD' Initiative Goes Live in New York State; REWARD Will Enhance Service to Patients and Referring Physicians

		Based in Dallas, Texas, Radiologix is a leading radiology services company that develops, consolidates and manages radiology service networks. These networks consist primarily of free-standing radiology centers and locations at which the company provides radiology services that have been outsourced by hospitals. The Company's objective is to develop and operate networks of radiology facilities to provide a full spectrum of radiology services and extensive geographic coverage in existing market areas and in selected new markets. (PRNewsFoto) DALLAS, TX USA

DALLAS, April 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Radiologix, Inc. (Amex: RGX), a leading national provider of diagnostic imaging services, today announced the successful activation of its Radiologix Enhanced Workflow And Record Distribution ("REWARD") initiative. REWARD combines a radiology information systems ("RIS") application and a picture archival communications systems ("PACS") application into a powerful workflow and image management system that will advance service levels to patients, referring physicians and radiologists. The RIS application of REWARD has been activated at two Radiologix subsidiaries: Mid Rockland Imaging Partners in New City, NY, and Ide Imaging Partners in Rochester, NY. REWARD was developed by Radiologix to leverage enhanced operations capabilities and deploy a common technology platform across the Company's 76 imaging centers in 10 states. The purpose of REWARD is to improve diagnostic expertise, reduce costs by refining operations, standardize protocols and provide more convenient image management and storage. REWARD encompasses both a standard RIS and PACS system to integrate solutions using infrastructure from common systems, processes and data. "REWARD is one of the most important initiatives that the company has ever undertaken," said Sami S. Abbasi, president and chief executive officer of Radiologix. "The initiative enables us to implement one consistent operating model across all of our imaging centers, and it adds tremendous strategic value to Radiologix because it positions us for future growth across a standard platform." With a standardized RIS application, Radiologix is poised to integrate a new PACS application and a document-imaging application, collectively moving towards an environment based mostly on digitized images and reports. New users of the system, including patient service representatives, technologists and radiologists, feel the application and new equipment gives them a significant advantage, enabling them to raise the level of service provided to patients and referring physicians by simplifying and automating data and image management. Radiologix chose a RIS/PACS application provider by evaluating each system's ability to provide comprehensive integrated business and clinical workflow and have an impact on the company's complete radiology workflow while also meeting its aggressive cost/benefit goal. Merge eFilm (Nasdaq: MRGE), a global healthcare software and services company, was selected for their FUSION RIS/PACS solution. Radiologix subsidiary Mid Rockland Imaging Partners was the first to go live with REWARD, with Ide Imaging Partners following. Mid Rockland Imaging Partners is affiliated with Hudson Valley Radiology Associates, P.A., a radiology practice group that serves the Hudson Valley Region of New York State. Ide Imaging Partners is affiliated with The Ide Group, a radiology practice group that serves Rochester, NY. "We are pleased and proud to be the first radiology practice to go live with the Radiologix REWARD," said Mark E. Geller, M.D., president of Hudson Valley Radiology Associates and Chairman of the Radiologix Physician Advisory Board. The new RIS/PACS capability will improve workflow through the imaging centers, providing a better patient experience, and it will lower turn-around time for results, enhancing our service to referring physicians. It will also put us well ahead of the service offerings of other radiology practices in the communities we serve." About Radiologix Radiologix (http://www.radiologix.com ) is a leading national provider of diagnostic imaging services, owning and operating multi-modality diagnostic imaging centers that use advanced imaging technologies such as positron emission tomography ("PET"), magnetic resonance imaging ("MRI"), computed tomography ("CT") and nuclear medicine, as well as x-ray, general radiography, mammography, ultrasound and fluoroscopy. The diagnostic images created, and the radiology reports based on these images, enable more accurate diagnosis and more efficient management of illness for ordering physicians. Radiologix owned or operated 76 diagnostic imaging centers located in 10 states as of December 31, 2004.