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Franklin & Seidelmann Integrates Critical Findings Result Management Solution into Radiologist Workflow System

Helps to Improve Patient Care and Physician Communication

CLEVELAND, OH—November 10, 2009—Franklin & Seidelmann (F&S), a leading, national full-service radiology interpretations provider, has integrated its critical findings result management process into AccuRad™, F&S' proprietary web-based radiology workflow system that manages the creation and distribution of radiology reports. The system now automates the process that enables F&S radiologists to deliver critical result notification at the time it is identified by utilizing a new feature available on their reading dashboards. With a single click, an alert is routed to the F&S operations staff, which initiates contact with the referring physician. Once the referring physician is on the phone, the F&S radiologist is connected in order to verbally communicate the critical results. The entire process is fully documented and the communication loop is then closed with the institution. By utilizing the internal operations staff, the burden of trying to locate physicians is relieved from the radiologist who can return to reading cases until the connectivity is made.

The critical findings module complies with The Joint Commission's National Patient Safety Goal for improving effectiveness of communication among caregivers. Benefits of the new software tool include easier and faster access for the radiologists as well as an automated documentation process that tracks each point of contact with date and time records to provide an auditable trail of data for measurement and reporting purposes. This also provides the significant advantage of person-to-person interaction rather than other electronic-only communication tools. The new solution has been implemented with all of F&S' current hospital clients and is included as part of a hospital services agreement.

"Any new process that we can introduce that improves patient care and increases medical staff satisfaction at the same time is a real winner in any organization," stated Jane Wheatley, CEO of Taylor Regional Hospital in Campbellsville, Kentucky. "The new critical findings capability that Franklin & Seidelmann provides to us does just that. In addition, it better prepares us for JCAHO inspections and takes one more IT software purchase off my budget, because it is included in F&S services. I would say that is a clean sweep in terms of the effectiveness of our partnership with F&S."

"The timely delivery and tracking of critical test results is extremely important in delivering quality radiology services to our clients," says Scott Seidelmann, CEO and President, Franklin & Seidelmann. "By automating the critical findings process and integrating it directly into our current system, it has enabled us to substantially improve patient care without impact to staff efficiency."

About Franklin & Seidelmann Subspecialty Radiology
Franklin & Seidelmann is a leading, national full-service radiology provider offering high quality final subspecialty and ED reports. F&S provides clinically specific, detailed reports and consultative services that enable clients to improve referring physician satisfaction and increase referrals and revenue while optimizing radiologist staffing costs. The F&S team of more than 100 radiologists, who combined are licensed in 50 states, includes: board certified musculoskeletal, neuroradiology, body, cardiac, ED and breast MR specialists with advanced modality training. F&S utilizes a sophisticated in-house technology platform to distribute images and reports. Founded in 2001 by pioneer subspecialty radiologists, F&S is located in Cleveland, OH with 250 clients and more than 100 non-physician employees. Visit www.franklin-seidelmann.com or call 866-4FSRADS.

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