AVP layoffs stump PACS industry

A round of job cuts at PACS developerAdvanced Video Products (AVP) has industry observers guessingat the intentions of parent E-Systems, which bought AVP in 1992(SCAN 11/4/92). About 13 AVP employees were let go, includingat least two high-ranking executives and several recently hiredsalespeople. AVP had approximately 50 employees before the reductions.

AVP, of Westford, MA, has maintained a relatively low profilesince it was acquired by E-Systems. E-Systems put AVP's salesand marketing efforts on hold while it sorted out the company'smanagement team, bringing on Cemax veteran Gil Peterson to headthe company earlier this year (SCAN 2/2/94). AVP said it wouldmove rapidly in the PACS market after Peterson's appointment asvice president and general manager.

The staff reductions indicate that E-Systems may be again reevaluatingits approach to PACS. Tom Goliash, AVP founder and vice presidentof business development at E-Systems Medical, confirmed that thecompany was downsizing but said that it remained committed tothe medical market. He declined to elaborate further.

AVP is developing a Unix-based software platform, with theintention of unveiling a product at this year's Radiological Societyof North America meeting.