BUDAPEST – GE Healthcare IT has extended its contract serving the 17 hospitals of Sweden’s Västra Götaland region (VGR) through 2015. GE Healthcare IT made the announcement at World of Health IT Congress in Budapest, Hungary.

GE Healthcare IT will also enhance the solution with several new software applications, including the eHealth Image Exchange and Centricity Enterprise Archive to allow patients to receive input from remote specialists. Physicians are enable to seek second opinions more efficiently as well.

The eHealth Image Exchange platform will integrate industry standards into VGR’s infrastructure. GE’s data registry and repository services use IHE-developed XDS standard profile. Physicians can access patient data stored in the repository using any system that supports the XDS standard.

The standards-based, user-friendly platform allows for greater clinical collaboration, a benefit for VGR.

“VGR is a leader in connecting care teams across a wide region to provide better healthcare for all citizens, which is the future of healthcare,” said Bernard Algayres, General Manager of GE Healthcare IT eHealth, EMEA. 

The Centricity Enterprise Archive’s Information Lifecycle Management will also be implemented as part of the contract extension. The application will allow VGR to establish a standard archiving process across its 17 hospitals. Centralized management enables VGR to control variables such a storage period, image compression ratio and management of tiered storage in just one step.