Region Skåne and Sectra sign six-year agreement

Region Skåne, one of Sweden's largest care providers, has signed a six-year agreement with IT and medical technology company Sectra (http://www.sectra.com) (STO: SECT B). The agreement includes development, maintenance and support for the region-wide IT solution for imaging and functional medicine, Sectra PACS. The system is used by, for example, the radiology, nuclear medicine, clinical physiology, endoscopy, dermatology and mammography units to manage and communicate image information. The order value amounts to EURO 12.6 M.

Most patients undergo a radiological examination as part of the diagnosis and treatment of their disease or injury. Accordingly, the units' ability to manage and communicate images and information rapidly and effectively to personnel in other care units is of major importance to the quality of the care provided to the patients. Region Skåne uses Sectra's complete solution for the management and communication of patient information (RIS) and radiology images (PACS).

"We have worked together with Sectra since 1997 and are highly satisfied. Through this cooperation, we have achieved substantial progress and efficiency enhancements within the region's medical image and information management. Sectra's solution is stable and provides us regional availability and has the functions and performance required to enable us to give our patients high-quality and safe care," says Peter Leander Senior physician and Regional Chief Medical Officer at Region Skåne.

Region Skåne is one of Sweden's largest care providers, comprising three hospital administrations and ten physical hospitals and conducting about a million imaging and functional medicine examinations per year. Region Skåne also uses Sectra systems for image-intensive units other than radiology and nuclear medicine.

"Historically, we had various IT systems for managing image information in various diagnostic units in the region, and have seen enormous benefits of gathering as much image information as possible in Sectra's system. The shared Skåne PACS was started in 2009-2010 and has brought about better integration and coordination of examinations conducted at our hospitals, which will lead to quicker care with the patient in focus," says Peter Leander.

"Region Skåne is highly proactive in making use of new technology that can enhance the efficiency of the operation and improve care for its patients. Since consolidated image management is an area of major potential for more efficient care, the experience we have garnered from the cooperation with Skåne will benefit our customers throughout the world," says Ann-Sofi Mikaelsson, President of Sectra Sverige AB.