Singapore, Aug 20, 2010: Beijing Goodwill, a provider of electronic cardiogram systems in China, launched of the country's first all-in-one electronic cardiogram management system in China. This system supports smarter healthcare by helping hospitals to analyze patient information generated from electrocardiography (ECG) examination reports to gain real-time insight and better detect cardiovascular diseases with more accuracy.  It also empowers doctors to use mobile devices to monitor heart patients.

Cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks, strokes, and other heart diseases resulting from disorders of the heart and blood vessels are the world's largest killers, claiming 17.1 million lives a year.  The World Health Organization estimates that from 2006 to 2015, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes will cost China $558 billion in national income.

This system is addressing the need for advanced healthcare information technology systems to help improve the management of ECG processes.  For example, physicians are now able to deliver ECG tests and diagnoses by tapping into a databank of centralized ECG information available to them anywhere.  Doctors can use mobile devices to access patient information such as a cardiogram report, and even view cardiogram images.

The new system is the latest example of IBM's collaboration with partners to use advanced analytics to improve medical research, diagnosis and patient care and to help reduce healthcare costs.  The integration of patient data so doctors, patients and insurers can share information seamlessly and efficiently creates a smarter and connected healthcare system that delivers better care with fewer mistakes, predicts and prevents diseases, and empowers people to make better choices. 

Enabled by IBM's technology, the new system includes the Beijing Goodwill's Electronic Cardiogram suite of professional applications and medical devices – such as holter systems, treadmill stress machines and patient monitors – as an all-in-one solution for hospitals.