PNN Vendor Profile: Dynamic seeks to mine interest in integrated PACS/RIS networks

PNN Vendor Profile:
Dynamic seeks to mine interest in integrated PACS/RIS networks

HISfirm moving forward with rollout of PACSPlus product

As healthcare institutions continue to demand higher levels of integration between their PACS and radiology information systems, some market watchers have speculated that the systems integration experience of healthcare information systems vendors might allow them to raise their profile in the digital image management sector.

One HIS firm that hopes to take advantage of this market demand is Dynamic Healthcare Technologies. The Lake Mary, FL-based firm offers both a PACS (PACSPlus) and a RIS (RadPlus).

“While they can also be sold separately, our strategic focus is to combine the PACS and RIS into a fully integrated solution,” said Jim Mulvaney, director of marketing for radiology.

Dynamic also provides enterprise-wide Web-based access to images and reports via its WebSight application. PACSPlus employs redundant arrays of inexpensive disks (RAID) for short-term storage, but does not yet include support for a long-term archive. Dynamic is hoping to add this capability to PACSPlus early next year. Digital linear tape jukeboxes from StorageTek of Louisville, CO, are the likely choice, Mulvaney said.

Outside of radiology, Dynamic offers information systems for several other applications, including laboratory, anatomical pathology, surgery, and electronic patient record.

A move into PACSPACSPlus has its roots in MaxiView, a 3-D image processing application developed in the early 1990s by a company called Dimensional Medicine (DMI). In 1996, Dynamic acquired DMI, and used MaxiView as a basis for the launch of a PACS product line, called PACsPlus+, which the firm promoted as a component of its Dynamic Vision virtual electronic patient record. DMI also offered MaxiFile, the predecessor to Dynamic’s next-generation RadPlus product.

PACsPlus+ was released for general availability in January 1997, featuring Windows NT servers and workstations (PNN 10/97). Archiving consisted of a combination of RAID, magneto-optical disks, and digital linear tape. PACsPlus+ achieved limited market success, however, and the company refocused its PACS efforts on the integration and distribution of medical images and information throughout the enterprise.

At the 1997 RSNA meeting, Dynamic showed PACSPlus 2.0, a new release that integrates all RIS information with images, according to the company. The vendor also introduced WebSight, a Web-based teleradiology and internal image distribution offering that supports both sending and receiving of images (PNN 1/98).

Dynamic also developed InfoBroker, a PACS/HIS/RIS interface that adds several functions, including automatic matching of exam requests and images. When users wish to access images from the PACS server, InfoBroker automatically matches up the images with appropriate reports, employing information from the DICOM image header.

Dynamic’s beta sites for its legacy PACsPlus+ product—Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO, and Good Samaritan Hospital in Chicago—signed on to beta-test PACSPlus 2.0 in 1998. An imaging center, Next Generation Radiology in Long Island, NY, implemented PACSPlus 2.0 in the third quarter of 1998.

Next Generation Radiology has implemented PACSPlus 2.0 and RadPlus, while Children’s Mercy and Good Samaritan hospitals have integrated PACSPlus 2.0 with Dynamic’s legacy RIS, MaxiFile. All three locations are employing WebSight. WebSight’s viewing software has a list price of $1000 per user, with volume discounts available.

At the 1998 RSNA meeting, Dynamic incorporated wavelet compression from Pegasus Medical Imaging of Tampa, FL (PNN 1/99) into PACSPlus 2.0. Food and Drug Administration 510(k) clearance for PACSPlus 2.0 was received shortly after the meeting.

In early 1999, Dynamic added Dynamic RadXpress, a diagnostic workstation for high-volume reading needs. RadXpress includes viewing software from ISG Technologies of Mississauga, Ontario.

Dynamic has also been active in its Web efforts. In May 1999, it announced Dynamic E-Net, a fee-based, electronic commerce initiative for healthcare providers. Using Dynamic E-Net, physicians could create their own portal and virtual private network to allow other physicians, clinicians, and insurers access to medical information using a standard Web browser.

The first phase of this initiative will extend the Web-enabling capability of Dynamic WebSight throughout Dynamic’s HIS product lines, including anatomic pathology, health information management, laboratory, radiology, and surgical services, according to the company. Dynamic E-Net, which was developed in conjunction with Microsoft Consulting Services-Healthcare, will go into production sites using Dynamic’s document management, pathology, and RIS offerings in the third and fourth quarters of 1999.

In future WebSight plans, Dynamic is considering incorporating encryption technology from encryption developer V-One. If added, the encryption technology would complement WebSight’s current security measures, which include user ID/password access, biometric access, and traditional Internet security methods, Mulvaney said.

In RIS developments, Dynamic has incorporated IBM’s MedSpeak speech recognition technology into RadPlus. Dynamic has 75 RIS customers, 20 of which have contracted for RadPlus, he said. Thin-client technology has also been added to RadPlus.

The company has also implemented RadPlus at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. MCV has installed more than 140 RadPlus workstations, 35 Dynamic Talk continuous speech recognition modules, and the Dynamic Optima mammography management system.

Dynamic employs a direct sales force for its radiology activities, including both PACS and RIS.

The company’s financial performance is improving. Dynamic posted second quarter revenues of $9.9 million, a 56% improvement over the $6.3 million in 1998 (end-June). Dynamic booked a profit of $549,000, compared with a net loss of $2.2 million last year. The profitable quarter was the second straight for the firm. Dynamic’s management attributed the strong improvement in operating results to a significant increase in system implementations and service revenues, as well as continued operating cost containment.

Future prospectsWhile the concept of integrated image and information management systems is enticing, HIS companies have, with few exceptions, struggled to convert this vision into clinical reality. Dynamic is on its way, however, with several beta sites employing integrated PACS and RIS applications. As the firm continues to build its technology and secure other customers, it may soon become a company to watch in the PACS market.

Dynamic Healthcare Technologies

615 Crescent Executive Court
Lake Mary, FL 32746-2109
800/832-3020
Fax: 407/333-4557

dht.com

Key personnelJim Mulvaney, director of marketing, radiology
John McGibbon, director of imaging development
Mike Carlay, senior vice president, sales and marketing
Mitchel Laskey, president and CEO

Stock tradingNASDAQ Stock Exchange as DHTI
52-week high: $2.94
52-week low: $.47
As of 7/22: $2.13
Market capitalization: $37.4 million

Radiology product linePACSPlus
WebSight
RadPlus radiology information system

Product distributionDirect sales

Key customer sitesThe Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO; Next Generation Radiology in Long Island, NY; and Good Samaritan Hospital in Chicago.

Technology partnersISG Technologies, Dome Imaging Systems, Merge Technologies, Pegasus Medical Imaging, and Image Systems.

Strategic focusDynamic hopes to take advantage of market demand for integrated PACS/RIS applications through its PACSPlus and RadPlus offerings. The firm’s WebSight product provides enterprise-wide Web-based access to images and reports.

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