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New, User-Friendly Tools Help Nuclear Medicine Technologists, Facility Managers Improve Compliance, Operational Efficiency, Data Integration

SALT LAKE CITY, June 7, 2010 — At this week’s Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM) Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, Cardinal Health is introducing new, real-time data integration tools to help imaging centers and nuclear medicine facilities more easily compile, analyze and share patient, procedure and medication usage information. The tools help users comply with regulatory agency requirements while improving their order accuracy, operational efficiency and business planning capabilities.

Cardinal Health’s Nuclear Pharmacy Services business provides a broad portfolio of high- and low- energy biotracers to nearly 4,000 nuclear medicine facilities and imaging centers, nationwide. More than a decade ago, the company introduced SYNtrac^®, the industry’s first Windows-based department management system for nuclear medicine facilities and imaging centers. The company’s new Syntrac^® Integration Tools incorporate specific customer recommendations from the more than 2,500 facilities that use SYNtrac, nationwide.

Key features of Cardinal Health’s new Syntrac Integration Tools include:

• Real-time Integration – Syntrac Integration Tools can electronically pull patient-specific information from picture archive communication (PAC) and scheduling systems; reducing the need to manually enter patient information multiple times. This information is formatted into a patient-specific product order that can be submitted electronically. These capabilities reduce the time technologists spend ordering products, reduce the likelihood for duplicate order entry and free up technologist time for patient care.

• Operational efficiency – The new tools also offer several features that help administrators improve operational efficiency and make better decisions about how to allocate staff and equipment resources. New standard and customizable reports track the types and quantities of procedures being performed; which cameras and technologists were used in various procedures; and which patients were referred by specific physicians.

This functionality can help users capture and report procedure costs; measure staff and equipment efficiency; more effectively budget for staff and resource needs and improve market planning. The system also allows users to track the reasons behind patient and procedure cancelations, so administrators have actionable data that can help them address issues that are impacting productivity. Finally, the system also documents patient dosing and waste to help users plan for regulation-appropriate dose disposal.

• Compliance – Syntrac Integration Tools document health physics testing and compliance requirements from entities ranging from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), state departments of health and accreditation agencies including the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Nuclear Medicine Laboratories (ICANL) and the American College of Radiology (ACR). The system offers customizable alerts to notify users of accreditation and compliance deadlines, helping to ensure prompt completion.

• Order accuracy and customer support – Enabling customers to order products online in a secure environment that helps ensure HIPAA compliance, Syntrac Integration Tools also help improve the efficiency and accuracy of the ordering process by reducing errors that may occur with orders placed via phone or hand-written fax. Cardinal Health also provides users with comprehensive training to ensure they understand how to effectively use the tools, along with on-site, online and phone-based customer service support to provide ongoing assistance.

“Our new Syntrac Integration Tools go far beyond traditional department management to set a new standard for real-time data integration within the nuclear imaging industry,” said John Rademacher, president of Cardinal Health’s Nuclear and Pharmacy Services. “These new tools deliver on Cardinal Health’s promise to improve health care efficiency and effectiveness by providing our customers with the immediate, reliable, customizable information they need to document compliance, optimize resources and grow their businesses.”

Attendees of the Society of Nuclear Medicine’s Annual Meeting, being held June 5-9, can participate in live demonstrations of this new tool by visiting Cardinal Health booth #1307.

About Cardinal Health
Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH) is a $96 billion health care services company that improves the cost-effectiveness of health care. As the business behind health care, Cardinal Health helps pharmacies, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers and physician offices focus on patient care while reducing costs, improving efficiency and quality, and increasing profitability. Cardinal Health is an essential link in the health care supply chain, providing pharmaceuticals and medical products to more than 60,000 locations each day. The company is also a leading manufacturer of medical and surgical products, including gloves, surgical apparel and fluid management products. In addition, the company supports the growing diagnostic industry by supplying medical products to clinical laboratories and operating the nation's largest network of radiopharmacies that dispense products to aid in the early diagnosis and treatment of disease. Ranked #17 on the Fortune 500, Cardinal Health employs more than 30,000 people worldwide. More information about the company may be found at cardinalhealth.com.