Up to $1 billion in annual radiology cost savings and efficiencies uncovered across Canada

Health infrastructure investments offsetting shortage of radiologists

December 15, 2008 (Toronto, ON) - Canada’s investments in digital diagnostic imaging technology will generate between $850 million and $1 billion in annual radiology efficiencies and cost savings and have already increased productivity to a level equivalent to adding more than 500 radiologists to our health care system.

The findings are outlined in the Diagnostic Imaging Benefits Evaluation Report, an independent study commissioned by Canada Health Infoway (Infoway). The report highlights the various benefits Picture Archiving and Communications Systems (PACS) are providing to Canadians. It also uncovers the potential of electronic health record investments to help stimulate Canada’s challenging economy. Get the national perspective by reading the facts of the report. Learn more in the Diagnostic Imaging Benefits Evaluation Report Executive Summary or watch the video to see diagnostic imaging at work.

“At a time when the global economy is prompting world leaders to focus on economic stimulus, electronic health record projects are emerging as viable investment opportunities,” said Richard Alvarez, president and CEO, Canada Health Infoway. “That’s because electronic health records have the unique ability to stimulate job creation, improve health outcomes and save money, as evidenced with today’s report on the benefits of Canada’s diagnostic imaging investments. It comes as no surprise that U.S. President-elect Barack Obama recently indicated such investments would be part of his planned economic stimulus package.”

PACS digitizes diagnostic exams such as x-rays, MRIs, ultrasounds and CT images. The technology provides clinicians with the ability to collect, store, manage and access images regardless of where they are located, or where the test was conducted. PACS improves productivity for doctors, technologists and radiologists and significantly improves remote reporting capabilities. Learn more about Infoway’s diagnostic imaging investment program and how it’s helping to offset Canada’s physician shortage.

Other benefits include:

* 25 to 30 per cent increase in technologists’ productivity
* Elimination of up to 17,000 patient transfers annually through remote access to images
* Increased capacity of between 9 million and 11 million exams at current radiologist resource levels
* Up to $1 billion a year in health system savings and efficiencies once PACS is fully implemented across the country

Infoway projects that by March 31, 2009, 79 per cent of Canadians will be in a position to benefit from $340 million in PACS investments.

“As physician consultants, radiologists are in great demand,” says Dr. David Vickar, president of the Canadian Association of Radiologists. “PACS is a technological tool which can significantly enhance the management of our increasing caseloads.”

“The benefits of government investment in health care infrastructure are accruing,” added Alvarez. “Equipping our radiologists with electronic tools to make their work more efficient is helping to offset the physician shortage through boosted clinical productivity, which is also addressing patient wait times. Cost savings are also being realized thanks to reduced patient transfers, fewer duplicate exams and the elimination of film. Once these systems are fully in place across Canada, the benefits to the health care system will reach up to $1 billion a year.”

Canada Health Infoway is an independent, not-for-profit organization funded by the federal government. Infoway jointly invests with every province and territory to accelerate the development and adoption of electronic health record projects in Canada. Fully respecting patient confidentiality, these secure systems will provide clinicians and patients with the information they need to better support safe care decisions and manage their own health. Accessing this vital information quickly will help foster a more modern and sustainable health care system for all Canadians.

Survey Identifies Gap between What Technology and Services Consumers Expect and What’s Currently offered by Health Care Providers

ORLANDO, FL, Feb. 25, 2008 — A new survey from the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, released today at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Annual Conference, found that consumers increasingly want access to technology and services that they are currently not receiving from their health care providers.

Greater access to medical information online is among the services in high demand. Nearly 80 percent of health care consumers are interested in having their physicians provide online access to medical records and test results; as many as one-fourth (26 percent) are willing to pay extra for these additional services.

More than 93 percent of consumers surveyed say they are not well prepared for future health care costs, making sensitivity to the cost for care increasingly important. Consumers are interested in using online tools to shop around to compare prices and the quality of care provided by their health care providers. They are interested in visiting physician (65 percent) and hospital (62 percent) Web sites to research the price of services offered. Consumers surveyed are also interested in visiting physician (67 percent) and hospital (64 percent) Web sites to research the quality of care offered.

The “2008 Survey of Health Care Consumers,” a representative poll of more than 3,000 Americans between the ages of 18 and 75, was conducted by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions.

Today’s health care consumers are already seeking care in non-conventional settings. In the last 24 months, 21 percent have purchased prescription medication online or by mail; 37 percent say they might do so in the future. Sixteen percent have already used a retail clinic, and 34 percent say they might do so in the future.

Among other survey’s findings:

• 3 out of 4 of consumers want their physicians to provide online access to an integrated medical record; 1 in 4 would pay more for this service
• More than 70 percent of consumers want their hospitals to provide online access to their medical record and test results; 1 in 4 would pay more for this service
• 1 in 4 consumers say they maintain some kind of personal health record; 46 percent would be willing to use a software program or Web site to create a personal health record
• 83 percent of consumers are interested in same-day appointments with their physicians; 1 in 4 (26 percent) would pay more for this service
• Nearly 3 out of 4 want physicians to provide online services to schedule appointments; 18 percent would pay more for this service
• 3 out of 4 of consumers are interested in e-mail access to their doctors; nearly 1 in 4 would pay more for this service
• 88 percent of consumers want expanded use of in-home monitoring devices and online tools that would reduce the need for visits and allow individuals to be more active in their care
  

In addition, the survey revealed the consumer health care market is not homogenous; key distinctions exist within different groups. An analysis of the data found that respondents fell into six discrete segments:

· “Content and compliant” consumers (29 percent) tend to prefer traditional approaches to care and accept what doctors recommend.

· “Sick and savvy” consumers (24 percent) tend to have at least one or more chronic condition and often prefer relying on themselves more than their doctors when making care-related decisions.

· “Online and onboard” consumers (8 percent) are high users of the health care system who use online tools and value-added services more than any other segment.

· “Shop and save” consumers (2 percent) are prone to switching doctors, treatments and health plans, and make changes to their insurance more often than the other segments and are most sensitive to prices of health care services.

· “Out and about” consumers (9 percent) use alternative approaches to treatment, consult alternative health care practitioners and substitute alternative therapies for prescription medications more than the other segments.

· “Casual and cautious” consumers (28 percent) tend to be younger and are healthier than the other segments, however are less insured and report being more financially unprepared for their future health care costs than the others.