A Diagnostics & Imaging Week

Microtek Medical (Columbus, Mississippi) reported that the company has recently been awarded a three-year single source contract with Novation (Irving, Texas). Novation is the supply company for VHA (also Irving) and University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC; Oak Brook, Illinois) and represents the purchasing interests of more than 2,300 healthcare organizations.

Under this contract, Microtek will offer VHA and UHC member healthcare organizations a complete line of operating room equipment drapes and its CleanOp Operating Room Turnover System. Microtek also will be participating in the Surgical I standardization portfolio of the Novation Opportunity program.

Microtek Medical is a manufacturer of operating room equipment drapes, used to maintain the integrity of the sterile field during surgery. The company's broad range of drapes is designed to fit each type of microscope, C-arm, X-ray cassette, endosurgical probe and other surgical equipment.

The company's CleanOp Operating Room Turnover System is designed to decrease the time needed between surgical procedures, thereby increasing procedural efficiencies and reducing costs incurred in the operating room or outpatient surgical setting. In addition, the quality of the materials is standardized and improved, resulting in better infection control technique and improved overall patient care.

Xtria (Dallas), a provider of digital imaging solutions and services to healthcare, said it has been awarded a contract valued at $5.2 million to provide managed services supporting the digital imaging environment at Howard Regional Health System (Kokomo, Indiana). Xtria is a wholly owned subsidiary of Xanser.

"The advanced enterprise-wide digital imaging environment will provide Howard physicians, clinical staff and patients with improved access to patient information, resulting in increased patient, staff and physician satisfaction," said Sharon Miller, vice president of information systems at Howard Regional. "Xtria will play a crucial role in the design, implementation and management of our system."

Xtria will manage Howard's digital imaging environment, including the selection and acquisition of a picture archiving and communications systems (PACS), implementation services, system and help desk support, ongoing management and on-site support.

Howard has taken an enterprise-wide approach to PACS, including radiology, cardiology, surgical and oncology. By streamlining the delivery of images in these services along with the accompanying workflow, the health system is expected to realize such benefits as enhanced communication of clinical results, increased efficiency of resources and reduced costs.

Swissray International (Elizabeth, New Jersey) has signed a capital agreement with Sutter Health (Sacramento, California) for direct digital radiography (ddR) products and services.

Under this agreement, Sutter Health members, including more than two dozen acute-care healthcare systems, have pooled their purchasing power to gain special access to Swissray's line of ddR solutions. This is a three-year agreement.

John Monahan, Swissray vice president of corporate accounts, said, "This is a wonderful opportunity for Swissray to demonstrate the unique advantages that a modality specialist can provide to an alliance as diverse and technologically advanced as Sutter Health."

Sutter Health affiliates serve more than 20 Northern California counties, from the Oregon border to the San Joaquin Valley, and from the Pacific coast to the Sierra foothills.