SIIM Launches Mentoring Network at SIIM 2010 in Support of Imaging Informatics Research and Science

April 15, 2010 - Leesburg, VA - The Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM) will announce its new Mentoring Network designed to encourage, support, and develop researchers in the field of imaging informatics at the 2010 SIIM Annual Meeting.  Mentors and mentees will have new opportunities to connect via the SIIM Mentoring Network.

The program design facilitates the mentoring process by bringing together experts in imaging informatics with those entering the discipline. Finding a mentor in this specific field is often challenging, as many clinical imaging departments do not have dedicated informatics programs. A mentee may wish to undertake a research project, but may not have an expert to connect with to pursue such work. Mentors are SIIM members who volunteer for participation in this program and qualify from being a part of an environment that fosters professional growth.  Anyone may join as a mentee, and gain valuable guidance from SIIM members with experience doing imaging informatics research. For details on the SIIM Mentoring Network, see www.siimweb.org/mentoring.

The SIIM 2010 Annual Meeting, June 3-6 in Minneapolis, provides excellent opportunities for learning, networking, and development. A Scientist/Physician networking reception will take place on June 5 at SIIM 2010 and provide the opportunity for mentors and mentees to meet each other face to face.  The "Writing a Grant or RFP - Key Steps for Success" learning lab on Sunday, June 6 provides another great opportunity for career advancement.

The scientific program includes promising research from informaticists around the globe, and includes New Investigator Travel Awards, the Roger Bauman Best Student Paper Award and scientific poster and demo prizes for talented young researchers. Scientific abstracts for presentations at SIIM 2010 are all available online for review.

SIIM encourages and supports research in the field of imaging informatics through its Annual Meeting scientific program and awards

(www.siimweb.org/awards) and through the Research & Education giving program (www.siimweb.org/donate). The Research & Education Fund supports the annual Dwyer Lectureship at the Annual Meeting, research programs such as Transforming the Radiological Interpretation Process (TRIP(tm)), and quality research of young scholars through the SIIM informatics Grant Program. SIIM Grant recipients will be presenting their work in the scientific session of learning tracks 4 and 8 at SIIM 2010.

More information about the SIIM 2010 Annual Meeting and SIIM's new Mentoring Network can be found at www.siim2010.org. Members of the press are invited to register for the meeting online at www.siim2010.org/press.

About SIIM

The Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM) is proud to be the leading health care professional organization representing interests and goals of those who work with and whose work is affected by the rapidly changing world of information and imaging technologies. SIIM seeks to spearhead research, education, and discovery of innovative solutions, and to explore new technologies and applications to improve the delivery of medical imaging services and the quality and safety of patient care. For more information, visit www.siimweb.org.

Contact:

Caroline Wilson

Director, Publications & Media

Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM) 703-723-0432, ext. 315 cwilson@siimweb.org www.siimweb.org

BRITISH COLUMBIA HEALTH SYSTEM SAVES $34M ON COMPUTING SERVICES

March 31, 2010

Ministry of Health Services

VICTORIA – British Columbia’s health-care system will save $34 million over the next six years on computer software and related services with a new contract between Microsoft and the BC Health Authority Shared Services Organization (SSO), said Health Services Minister Kevin Falcon.

“Even though we are increasing the budget for health care by approximately 15 per cent over the next three years, we still have challenges in the system,” said Falcon. “To date, through the Shared Services Organization, we have been able to save $115.5 million. By using this innovative purchasing model and leveraging our provincial buying power, we are able to put those savings directly back into the health-care system to go towards front-line patient care.”

The contract covers computer software and related services to support British Columbia’s six health authorities. The six-year term will run until 2016, and is replacing the previous contract, which was set to expire in 2012. In working with Microsoft, SSO has saved approximately $34 million over six years.

The contract includes all Microsoft products that are currently used by health authorities, or any that are expected to be used in the next six years. The new pricing is also now able to be extended to affiliated not-for-profit health-care organizations that are funded either in whole or in part by one of the Province’s health authorities.

In addition, SSO will now be able to move unused software licences between health authorities. Under the previous contract, if a health authority needed additional services, they would have had to purchase a new licence, even if one was available from a different health authority.

“SSO is just one example of the ways in which the health authorities are collaborating to reduce administration and purchasing costs, saving the health-care system valuable funds,” said Lynda Cranston, chair of the SSO board and president and CEO of the Provincial Health Services Authority.

“Microsoft is proud to partner with British Columbia, through the SSO, to create a platform to deliver innovative health-care solutions for B.C. residents,” said Eric Gales, president, Microsoft Canada. “Sustainability, accessibility and quality of care are cornerstones of good health-care delivery, and this partnership will enable and support the Province in all three areas, while delivering significant costs savings for today and the future.

The SSO Technology Services conducted appropriate due diligence, and determined that Microsoft was the only vendor able to provide the services needed in a cost-effective way. The proposed contract was reviewed and endorsed by the chief information officer for the Province of British Columbia.

Previously announced contracts negotiated by the SSO include providing home oxygen, cardiac, renal dialysis and operating room supplies to the health authorities. The total projected cumulative savings for SSO’s first five years of operation (until March 2014) will be $181 million, which surpasses the $150 million in savings initially identified by the SSO.

The SSO assumed accountability for supply-chain services for all six health authorities in February 2009. It combines the buying power of the Province’s health authorities by amalgamating several purchasing processes into contracts with larger volumes of standardized products. Key to its business approach are increased process efficiency, standardization, capital avoidance and combining the buying power of its members.

Media contact:	Bernadette Murphy Media Relations Manager Ministry of Health Services 250 952-1887 (media line)

For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.

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Medtronic: Advanced Deep Brain Stimulation Therapy Now Available in Canada

Medtronic Launches Activa(R) DBS Devices in Canada to Treat Disabling Motor Symptoms and Allow Tailored Programming BRAMPTON, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Feb. 16, 2010) - Editors Note: There are 2 photos associated with this Press Release. Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) announces the market launch of Activa(R) RC (Rechargeable Cell) and Activa(R) PC (Primary Cell) neurostimulators, the most innovative deep brain stimulation therapy (DBS) to help patients with neurodegenerative disorders to control their symptoms. The first Canadian implantation of the new device took place at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia by Dr. Ivar Mendez, Head of the Division of Neurosurgery, and his team. Activa RC and Activa PC are the next generation devices added to Medtronic's DBS therapy portfolio. The Activa RC and Activa PC offers innovative new programming tools, smaller size neurostimulators and a rechargeable neurostimulator lasting up to nine (9) years between battery replacement surgery. The new patient programmer will enable patients the freedom to choose different programs to suit their diverse activities. As a result, patients suffering from involuntary movements caused by conditions like Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, and primary dystonia can now have more control of disabling motor symptoms. Patients are able to adjust their therapy within the parameters chosen by their physician, allowing increased movement control. Patients will also benefit from greater comfort because the new devices are up to 50 percent smaller in size than previous versions. "The new DBS device allows patients to recharge the batteries of their device without the need of a surgical intervention. This new system is likely to have a significant beneficial impact on patients that require high levels of energy to control their symptoms," said Dr. Mendez. "These types of technological advances improve our ability to treat our patients and provide them with longer and sustained relief." Over 233,000(1)(2) patients in Canada suffer from neurodegenerative disorders which can cause disability and impaired functioning.(3)(4) Medtronic DBS therapy brings powerful, long-term improvements to motor functions and quality of life in patients with primary dystonia(5) and essential tremor(6) and is the most efficacious therapy to enhance quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease.(7) Medtronic DBS therapy is fully reversible and has a favourable safety profile.(8) In addition to patient benefits, the use of Medtronic DBS therapy has also been shown to provide major savings to our healthcare system. For instance, by reducing the medication required by patients with Parkinson's disease following DBS, and minimising the need for follow up visits for patients with dystonia once optimal therapeutic settings have been determined, research has shown significant savings in cost and time.(9) About DBS Through mild electrical stimulation, DBS therapy blocks signals within the brain that are responsible for debilitating motor symptoms, such as stiffness, slowness of movement and shaking. These electrical pulses are delivered through the extension and lead to symptom-specific brain areas called globus pallidus internus (GPi), subthalamic nucleus (STN) or ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus (Vim). With Activa RC, patients can recharge their stimulator in the comfort of their home with a wearable charging system that connects to the neurostimulator, ensuring maximum recharging while the patient goes about their daily activities, and use a patient programmer to monitor when the battery requires charging. For the first time these devices also store records related to the benefits or side effects associated with various programming parameters which will allow programming to be easily and carefully optimized over time based on individual patient response. About Medtronic Medtronic, Inc. (www.medtronic.com) (NYSE:MDT), headquartered in Minneapolis, is the global leader in medical technology - alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for millions of people around the world. About Medtronic of Canada Ltd. Medtronic of Canada sells, services, and distributes Medtronic products in Canada: medical devices used in cardiovascular medicine, diabetes, spinal and neurosurgery, and ear, nose and throat surgery. Medtronic of Canada employs over 420 Canadians, it is headquartered in Brampton, Ontario, has an Operations Centre in Mississauga and regional offices in Vancouver and Montreal and an atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation catheter manufacturing facility - Medtronic CryoCath - in the Montreal metropolitan area. About the Queen Elizabeth II Health Centre Located in the heart of Halifax, Nova Scotia, the QEII is the largest adult academic health sciences centre in Atlantic Canada. If you need to be referred for specialized care, and you're an adult from Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island or New Brunswick, you will likely come to the QEII. Working closely with health care providers in the community, other local hospitals and health care education programs, the QEII also provides general hospital services for the residents of Capital Health. Louis ED, Ottman R, Hauser WA. How common is the most common adult movement disorder? Estimates the prevalence of essential tremor throughout the world. Mov Disord 1988;13:803-808.     1.  Parkinson Society Canada www.parkinson.ca/atf/cf/%7B9ebd08a9-7886-4b2d-     a1c4-a131e7096bf8%7D/Research%20Highlights%202008%20-%20En.pdf. Accessed     November 24, 2009. 2.  Bain PG, Findley LJ, Thompson PD, Gresty MA, Rothwell JC, Harding AE, et     al. "A study of hereditary essential tremor." Brain 1994; 117:805-824. 3.  Zesiewicz, TA et al. Practice Parameter: Therapies for essential tremor.     American Academy of Neurology. June 2005. 4.  Vidailhet M, Vercueil L, Houeto JL, Krystkowiak P, Lagrange C, et al.     Bilateral, pallidal, deep-brain stimulation in primary generalised     dystonia: a prospective 3 year follow-up study. Lancet Neurol. 2007; 6:     223-229. 5.  Rehncrona S et al. Long-term efficacy of thalamic deep brain stimulation     for tremor: double blind assessments. Mov Disord. 2003; 18: 163-170 6.  Martinez-Martin P, Deuschl G. Effect of medical and surgical     interventions on health-related quality of life in Parkinson's disease.     Mov Disord. 2007; 22(6): 757-765. 7.  Voges et al, Thirty days complication rate following surgery performed     for Deep Brain Stimulation. Mov Disorders 2007; 22(10):1486-9. 8.  Fraix V et al. Clinical and economic results of bilateral subthalamic     nucleus stimulation in Parkinson's disease. J Neurol Neurosug     Psychiatry. 2006; 77(4):443-9. To view the photos associated with this press release, please visit the following links: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20100216-Activa_RC_2LG.jpg. http://www.marketwire.com/library/20100216-ActivaManLG.jpg.

CONTACT INFORMATION: Medtronic, Inc. Melicent Lavers Sailly PR & Communications (905) 460-3653 Melicent.lavers@medtronic.com www.medtronic.com INDUSTRY: Medical and Healthcare - Hospitals, Facilities and Providers, Medical and Healthcare - Healthcare, Medical and Healthcare - Medical Devices