Regional medical network links doctors, hospitals and labs

17 Jun 2002

WASHINGTON, DC-- Health-care providers and technical professionals from around the region recently had an opportunity to examine the area's latest medical network during an open house at the Fairfax, Va., offices of Integrated Medical Systems Inc.

The network, which is named MEDACOM Capitol Area, is touted by IMS as the best way to move area doctors into cyberspace. It includes features that allow doctors to communicate using voice, fax or e-mail. The network also lets physicians access and exchange medical reports, clinical graphics, medical images and managed-care transactions. Northern Virginia's Inova Health Systems, a collection of hospitals, nursing homes and health-care providers, was the first in the region to sign up with MEDACOM Capitol Area network. Inova expects to have more than 2,000 physicians on-line by the end of 1997. According to Mike Wilson, director of area operations for IMS, the network currently can handle up to 3,000 physicians simultaneously.