11/19/2003
For Immediate Release
HMSA Signs Agreement with Novation for Open MRI
CONTACT:
changp@hitachimed.com
www.hitachimed.com
Twinsburg, Ohio – November 2003 - Hitachi Medical Systems America announces that a three-year purchasing agreement has been signed with Novation, the supply company of VHA Inc. and the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC). The agreement, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2004, and runs through Dec. 31, 2006, covers the Hitachi Altaire and AIRIS II magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems, products of Hitachi's seamless integration of high-quality clinical imaging with Open MRI patient comfort.
"This dual-source contract was awarded based on Novation's competitive bid process," said Eldon Petersen, group senior vice president, at Novation. "Our Diagnostic Imaging Council, made up of representatives from member hospitals, supported the decision based upon financial and non-financial criteria."
"We are extremely pleased to be entering this relationship with Novation, the leading supply chain management company," says Richard L. Ernst, President and CEO of HMSA. "Novation has recognized that Open MRI is important to its mission of delivering industry-leading technology to its members. We are proud that they have chosen our leadership products and services as the solution."
Based in Irving, Texas, Novation was established in January 1998 through a combination of the supply programs of VHA and UHC, two national health care alliances. Novation serves the purchasing needs of more than 2,300 members and affiliates of VHA and UHC. In 2002, VHA and UHC members purchased nearly $20 billion in supplies through Novation contracts. For more information, go to www.novationco.com.
Hitachi Medical Systems America, Inc. markets premium, high performance magnetic resonance imaging products of Hitachi Medical Corporation, Tokyo, Japan. These include the Altaire™ high-field performance MR system and the AIRIS® II MR system with advanced permanent magnet technology. The company has more than 1,300 Open Magnetic Resonance Imaging systems installed throughout the United States and over 3,000 Open MRI systems installed worldwide HMSA first established a leadership position in the medical industry with Open MRI systems and has expanded their modality offerings to include ultrasound, positron emission tomography, and optical topography. Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company, with approximately 320,000 employees worldwide and annual sales of over $60 billion. For more information about HMSA's complete line of imaging products and services, please visit www.hitachimed.com.
