McKesson and Swissray Partner to Deliver Advanced Digital Imaging to Fast-Paced Radiology and Imaging Departments

Business Wire, Nov 4, 2008

ATLANTA -- McKesson, the world's leading provider of healthcare information technology (IT), announced today that it has signed a distribution agreement with Swissray International, Inc., the pioneer and worldwide leader in the design, manufacturing and marketing of state-of-the-art Digital Radiography (DR) systems. In addition to its industry-leading Horizon Medical Imaging[TM] picture archiving and communication system (PACS), McKesson will sell Swissray's DR technology. Together the systems provide imaging departments and centers with enhanced workflow and performance capabilities to speed the patient care process.

"McKesson is pleased to count Swissray as one of our valued imaging partners," said Rod O'Reilly, vice president and general manager of McKesson's Medical Imaging Group. "With the Swissray DR, we can provide an end-to-end digital solution for the most common modality and procedure types, while taking full advantage of the inherent workflow features in Horizon Medical Imaging. This is particularly valuable in imaging areas where speed and performance are key, such as emergency rooms and pediatric-focused facilities."

"We are very proud to be selected by McKesson as a DR partner," said Ueli Laupper, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Swissray. "New modalities like the Swissray DR must take advantage of digital workflow and IT-based solutions. By packaging McKesson's PACS with our market-leading DR technology, we can deliver an outstanding value proposition to healthcare providers."

The Horizon Medical Imaging PACS is the flagship component of McKesson's enterprise imaging offering. As a complete reporting and workflow system, Horizon Medical Imaging brings all of the patient's images together, enabling radiologists to more quickly deliver results to the attending care team. Tight integration and tools that streamline workflow and break down interdepartmental communication barriers provide significant value to McKesson customers and their patients.

Swissray's superior technology helps improve overall imaging productivity and significantly lowers the cost of general radiography in comparison to conventional or computed radiography. As hospitals begin to adopt DR technology, many find that modality-based PACS do not scale to today's imaging department demands for workflow, efficiency and financial results.

"McKesson's innovative solutions complement Swissray's best-of-breed DR to deliver exactly what imaging departments need," said O'Reilly. "Together, we can give imaging centers a complete, affordable imaging solution that will help them succeed in delivering the best patient care possible."

About Swissray

Swissray is the pioneer and worldwide leader in the design, manufacturing and marketing of state-of-the art Digital Radiography Systems. Swissray's unique APS[TM] - Automated Positioning System - takes performance beyond conventional DR by streamlining the radiography workflow to the maximum. With an industry leading 3.5 lp/mm spatial resolution, Swissray delivers unmatched image quality at lowest radiation dose.

About McKesson

McKesson Corporation, currently ranked 18th on the FORTUNE 500, is a healthcare services and information technology company dedicated to helping its customers deliver high-quality healthcare by reducing costs, streamlining processes, and improving the quality and safety of patient care. McKesson is the longest-operating company in healthcare today, marking its 175th anniversary this year. Over the course of its history, McKesson has grown by providing pharmaceutical and medical-surgical supply management across the spectrum of care; healthcare information technology for hospitals, physicians, homecare and payors; hospital and retail pharmacy automation; and services for manufacturers and payors designed to improve outcomes for patients. For more information, visit http://www.mckesson.com.