DR Systems, Inc. is an independent provider of enterprise imaging and information management systems for hospitals, integrated healthcare networks and diagnostic imaging centers. The company's products include an integrated picture archiving and communication system

Picture archiving and communication system

A picture archiving and communication system is a medical imaging technology which provides economical storage of, and convenient access to, images from multiple modalities . Electronic images and reports are transmitted digitally via PACS; this eliminates the need to manually file, retrieve, or...

 (PACS) for radiology

Radiology

Radiology is a medical specialty that employs the use of imaging to both diagnose and treat disease visualized within the human body. Radiologists use an array of imaging technologies to diagnose or treat diseases...

, mammography

Mammography

Mammography is the process of using low-energy-X-rays to examine the human breast and is used as a diagnostic and a screening tool....

, and pathology

Pathology

Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....

; a cardiology

Cardiology

Cardiology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the heart . The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology...

 information system (CVIS); a radiology information system

Radiology Information System

A radiology information system is a computerized database used by radiology departments to store, manipulate and distribute patient radiological data and imagery. The system generally consists of patient tracking and scheduling, result reporting and image tracking capabilities...

 (RIS); and digital dictation

Digital dictation

Digital dictation is a method of recording and editing the spoken word in real-time for transcription and maximum intelligibility in a digital audio format...

, voice recognition, medical transcription

Medical transcription

Medical transcription, also known as MT, is an allied health profession, which deals in the process of transcription, or converting voice-recorded reports as dictated by physicians and/or other healthcare professionals, into text format.-History:...

, advanced image processing

Image processing

In electrical engineering and computer science, image processing is any form of signal processing for which the input is an image, such as a photograph or video frame; the output of image processing may be either an image or, a set of characteristics or parameters related to the image...

, management reporting, regulatory compliance

Regulatory compliance

In general, compliance means conforming to a rule, such as a specification, policy, standard or law. Regulatory compliance describes the goal that corporations or public agencies aspire to in their efforts to ensure that personnel are aware of and take steps to comply with relevant laws and...

 reporting, and Internet image/results distribution systems, as well as associated interfaces

Interface (computer science)

In the field of computer science, an interface is a tool and concept that refers to a point of interaction between components, and is applicable at the level of both hardware and software...

. DR Systems is privately held and is headquartered in San Diego, Calif.

History

DR Systems was founded in 1992 by two practicing neuroradiologists—Murray Reicher, M.D., and Evan K. Fram, M.D.

The company delivered its first PACS product in January 1993. Currently, DR Systems has approximately 180 employees. Since inception, it has focused exclusively on medical diagnostic imaging systems technology.

The company was the first PACS vendor to receive a U.S. patent for automated medical image management and separate patent for melding medical image management and audio.

Management

DR System's Chairman of the Board is Murray Reicher, M.D., a board-certified diagnostic radiologist and co-founder. The company's President and Chief Executive Officer is Richard Porritt.

Products

DR Systems' fundamental product is its Unity RIS/PACS, a single-user interface platform that combines RIS/PACS functions with multiple facets of the workflow for diagnostic imaging patients and the electronic medical record

Electronic medical record

An electronic medical record is a computerized medical record created in an organization that delivers care, such as a hospital or physician's office...

. Elements include Web-based scheduling, dictation, voice recognition, transcription, advanced image processing, output to billing systems and services, and Web-based image/results distribution.

Patent Controversy

DR systems, has a 1995 patent covering all the normal ways that a PACS would display images to a user, and they are pursuing multiple vendors whom they regard as infringing it. Although regarded by experts in the field as being covered by prior art

and having all 16 initial claims dismissed on re-examination, the USPTO somehow allowed them to be reworked, which is the basis for the current actions.