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QRS Diagnostic Supports and Leverages Physicians Adoption and Use of Handheld Computers in Clinical Practice
QRS Software-based PC Card Medical Devices Enable Physicians to Perform Diagnostic Tests on their Handhelds
MINNEAPOLIS -- October 22, 2002 -- "Its no secret that the market for handheld computers in healthcare represents a significant opportunity," says Mark Bard, president, Manhattan Research, a New York-based healthcare marketing information and services firm. Twenty-nine percent of practicing physicians in the U.S. now report using PDAs or handheld computers, and the firm projects that 40 percent of all practicing physicians will do so within the next two years. To tap this potential, physicians need applications they can use on handhelds at the point of care. "Integrating technology into the natural workflow of medicine is a critical driver in the initial adoption and ongoing utilization of any IT solution," explains Bard.
QRS Diagnostic, leader in innovative design and development of software-based medical devices, supports and leverages physicians adoption of handhelds by enabling physicians to use them for essential clinical functions in patient care: diagnostic testing and monitoring patients physiological data.
"Our technology complements and could actually accelerate physician demand for handhelds," says Spencer Lien, chief executive officer, QRS Diagnostic. "When a physician slides a QRS PC Card into a handheld or Pocket PC, they immediately turn it into a medical device for diagnostic testing. They can use our devices on their handhelds to gather and assess physiological data, a fundamental part of routine patient care."
QRS holds two patents on the design of medical devices contained entirely in computer cards, such as PC Cards, Compact Flash (CF) Cards, and Springboard(TM) modules. "QRS uses our patented technology to program the intelligence of physiological data acquisition and analysis into computer cards," says Patrick Lichter, chief technology officer, QRS. "QRS PC Cards, with integrated sensors, slide into the PC Card drives of desktop, laptop, handheld, or Pocket PCs, like the Compaq iPAQ(TM). So, QRS makes off-the-shelf computers work as fully functioning medical devices."
Today, QRS offers a complete line of PC Card medical devices for spirometry, pulse oximetry, and electrocardiography. Blood pressure and vital signs cards are among the forthcoming PC Card medical devices that QRS is bringing to the market.
"QRS synthesis of device technology and information technology is the key to the future of medical devices," says Dan Goldberger, president, Dolphin Medical, Inc. "It makes medical devices mobile, upgradeable, and reasonably priced." Dolphin Medical, a subsidiary of OSI Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: OSIS), Hawthorne, Calif., and QRS have entered into a strategic alliance. Under their agreement, Dolphin has licensed QRS patents for use in certain markets, and Dolphin will also manufacture QRS PC Cards.
Sunrise Lifestyle Centers, Northbrook, Ill., has selected QRS PC Card devices for patient monitoring in all of its comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities. "I use QRS devices in my internal medicine practice, and they have proven to be precise, reliable, and convenient to use," says Sam Sugar, M.D, Sunrise chief medical officer. "And, on price, as far as Im concerned, QRS has no competition. Their PC Cards are very affordable."
In sum, QRS Diagnostic is positioned to take advantage of, and contribute to, physicians use of handheld computers to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of medical care.
About QRS Diagnostic
Founded in 1994, QRS Diagnostic, Plymouth, Minn., uses innovative software technology to design and develop FDA-approved medical devices that simplify and reduce the costs of diagnostic testing and patient monitoring. With our patented computer card technology platform, QRS turns standard desktop, laptop, and handheld PCs into modular, upgradeable medical devices and streamlines the collection and communication of precise physiological data. We enable primary care physicians to cost-effectively practice high-tech medicine while delivering the accuracy that specialists and hospitals demand. The affordability, durability and mobility of QRS devices also advance diagnostic testing and patient monitoring for disease management, home healthcare and personal health management. For more information on QRS, please visit www.QRSdiagnostic.
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QRS Diagnostic Media Contacts:
David Aquilina
Communications Consultant
612-922-5551
davidaquilina@msn.com
Amy Ptak
Marketing Manager
763-559-8492, ext. 949
amyp@QRSdiagnostic.com
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