Mountain View, CA, June 14, 2001
IIMPAC Medical
Systems, Inc., today announced the installation of its IMRT
OpenSuite™ at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center (St. Joe's)
in Phoenix, Arizona. This marks IMPAC’s 15th installation of IMRT
OpenSuite, a suite of products that promises to result in
significant improvements in radiation therapy treatments using
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT).
IMRT uses a special computer technology to deliver the radiation
in the same three-dimensional shape as the tumor it is targeting,
thereby minimizing the risk of destroying adjacent healthy tissue.
But IMRT administration demands the use of sophisticated software
to control complex treatment machine functions. With IMPAC, St.
Joe’s was able to upgrade their existing treatment equipment then
use IMRT OpenSuite to streamline the setup, verification,
delivery, and recording of IMRT treatments.
IMPAC’s system assures precise setup, consistent delivery, and
accurate documentation of the complex treatment protocols.
According to Joel Goldwein, M.D., IMPAC Vice President of Medical
Affairs, “the use of an integrated product will not only result in
improved documentation, it will also allow users to assess
outcomes almost instantly, and ultimately deliver more effective
and efficient therapy. Also, the fact that new treatment machines
do not have to be purchased to administer IMRT will make the
technology available to many more facilities and, therefore, many
more patients.”
“We are extremely satisfied with the acquisition of IMPAC’s IMRT
OpenSuite. Having the added quality assurance tools to validate
plans and track dosages gives our staff and patients greater
treatment potential,” states Brian Wichman, chief physicist at St.
Joe’s. “I think we all have more peace of mind knowing that IMPAC
is another reliable eye watching over our treatment delivery.”
In addition to saving St. Joe's millions of dollars on equipment
upgrades, IMRT OpenSuite has saved them time. Prior to installing
IMRT OpenSuite, St. Joe's had to rely upon a time consuming
process of manual checks and balances to ensure accurate IMRT
setup and delivery.
“Since purchasing IMRT OpenSuite we have seen a night and day
difference in the efficiency of our IMRT program,” claims Susan
Vannoni, site administrator at St. Joe's. “We are now able to
treat two or three more patient fields in the same amount of time.
Additionally, we have seen our IMRT revenue jump by 50%.”
Located in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona, St. Joseph’s Hospital
and Medical Center is a 500-bed, not-for-profit hospital that
provides a wide range of health, social and support services with
special advocacy for the poor and underserved. St. Joe’s is a
nationally recognized center for quality tertiary care, medical
education and research. It includes the internationally known
Barrow Neurological Institute and the only Trauma Center in the
state of Arizona that is verified as a Level I Trauma Center by
the American College of Surgeons. The hospital is also a respected
center for pediatrics, maternity care, oncology, orthopedics,
cardiology and many other medical services. In 1999, U.S. News and
World Report ranked St. Joe’s among the best hospitals in several
specialties—including the 8th best hospital in the United States
for neurology and neurosurgery. For more information about St.
Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center please visit
http://www.ichosestjoes.com. |
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Marketing Communications:
Michelle Arnold
IMPAC Medical Systems, Inc.
650-623-8883
pr@impac.com
http://www.impac.com
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