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GE Healthcare’ announced today that the company’s portable ECG (electrocardiograph) device, the MAC 800, will be implemented in both Vancouver and Whistler to help support physician care of athletes, trainers and visitors throughout the Vancouver 2010 Paralymipc Winter Games.
Recently receiving a medical device license from Health Canada, GE Healthcare’s MAC 800 has the features of a full size, ECG device, engineered down to under seven pounds, with a clear color display and an integrated carrying handle to enable medical teams to get immediate information regarding the overall health and functioning of a patient’s heart. Units will be deployed in the Vancouver and Whistler Polyclinics, the Vancouver Paralympic Center, Whistler Olympic Park and at BC Place for both the opening and closing ceremonies.
“GE is committed to improving access to healthcare technologies around the world and this type of innovation can make an immediate impact in providing clinical support to medical teams in Canada,” said Peter Robertson, General Manager of GE Healthcare Canada. “The MAC 800’s compact size will help medical teams take healthcare support to the patient during the Paralympic Games while still maintaining connectivity to larger clinics and medical institutions.”
The MAC 800 features an innovative keypad with a T9 SMS-style mobile phone keypad design and quick access function keys to help simplify and speed ECG operations. Combined with outstanding ECG analysis, the technology will help clinicians diagnose patients faster and more efficiently at the point of care.
Connectivity within a physician’s work environment is a key to coordinated care and improved diagnoses. MAC 800 helps to make that vision a reality through its multiple communication options that fit the needs of most practices, including LAN, modem, SD card and serial port to store and send ECG data from a wide variety of locations. Additionally, MAC 800 offers the option of a PDF or XML output for recognized storing and data sharing. MAC 800 also connects to a variety of vendors’ EMR solutions via Cardiosoft, GE’s cardiology information software system, creating a fully digital ECG workflow.
“GE’s MAC 800 ECG technology will play a big role in assisting medical care at the Paralympic Games and we are excited to have it on board,” said Jack Taunton, chief medical officer of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. “Its ability to store, send and analyze ECG data in a variety of ways will provide us the flexibility and connectivity needed to get information, helping to improve access to heart care.”
MAC 800 is one of GE’s first healthymagination validated products for increasing access to basic ECG testing, helping to improve the quality of care through its proven 12SL analytical capabilities and reduce cost of ownership.
About GE Healthcare
GE Healthcare (gehealthcare.com) provides transformational medical technologies and services that are shaping a new age of patient care. Our broad expertise in medical imaging and information technologies, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring systems, drug discovery, biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies, performance improvement and performance solutions services help our customers to deliver better care to more people around the world at a lower cost. In addition, we partner with healthcare leaders, striving to leverage the global policy change necessary to implement a successful shift to sustainable healthcare systems.
Our “healthymagination” vision for the future invites the world to join us on our journey as we continuously develop innovations focused on reducing costs, increasing access and improving quality and efficiency around the world. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, GE Healthcare is a $17 billion unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE). Worldwide, GE Healthcare employs more than 46,000 people committed to serving healthcare professionals and their patients in more than 100 countries.
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arvind.gopalratnam[.]ge.com 
