12/1/2002
For Immediate Release
HITACHI INTRODUCES NEW ELITE PLUS CUSTOMER ASSURANCE PROGRAM AT RSNA: THE MOST INCLUSIVE, COMPREHENSIVE MR SUPPORT PROGRAM AVAILABLE IN THE INDUSTRY TODAY
CONTACT:
Philip Chang
Hitachi Medical Systems America, Inc.
1959 Summit Commerce Park
Twinsburg, Ohio 44087
800.800.3106 or 330.425.1313 Ext. 4510
330.425.1410 Fax
info@hitachimed.com
www.hitachimed.com
Chicago, Illinois - December 1, 2002 – The new Elite Plus Customer Assurance Program from Hitachi Medical Systems America (HMSA), like Hitachi’s Open MR technology, establishes a new benchmark for the industry: unparalleled long-term support in all facets of Hitachi MR ownership and operation. It is the fitting compliment to Hitachi MR systems, especially the Altaire® and AIRIS II®, which are renowned for innovation and design refinements that lead to the optimum in patient comfort, high image quality and throughput.
The program spans the entire spectrum of MR ownership: from site planning and installation to no-cost software upgrades, remote support, applications support and maintenance.
“Our Elite Plus Customer Assurance Program affords every Hitachi MR customer the utmost confidence of full support and backing through installation, maintenance (both on-site and remote), applications training and marketing,” according to Sheldon Schaffer, Vice President and General Manager of Magnetic Resonance for HMSA. “It’s a value-added package that assures smooth, efficient and profitable MR facility operation over the long haul.”
Site selection assistance—Provides indispensable advice in identifying and resolving any potential problems at a given site to ensure peak performance.
Construction assistance—Serving as consultants to both architect and contractor, our Specialists will ensure all the unique needs of each MR suite are addressed and met.
Rigging assistance—A HMSA Mechanical Installation Technician is assigned to each project to facilitate a smooth delivery.
Installation—Backed by our extensive regional and national technical support groups. Final testing includes verification of optimum performance using the ACR accreditation testing procedures.
Altaire and AIRIS II Owner’s Guides—Explaining, in easy-to-understand terms, the entire site planning and installation process.
Monthly preventive maintenance—A systematic approach to peak performance based on years of operating experience.
99% uptime guarantee—There’s no other guarantee like this anywhere else in the industry.
ACR accreditation support—Ongoing assistance in keeping current with ACR Site Accreditation and Quality Control program.
Reduced pricing on options—Just one of the ways Hitachi helps you to keep your system current with new clinical applications as they emerge.
Operating software upgrades absolutely free—Customers under warranty or extended service agreement receive free operating software upgrades provided that they do not require associated hardware changes. These upgrades, usually released annually, can save you on average $35,000 a year—a very considerable amount.
Sentinel™ remote customer support —including remote image transfer, remote diagnostics, error logging, pre-scan data display, DICOM setting, remote service backup loading, transfer of clinical study library, and more from our national technical support operation, staffed with highly-trained and experienced MR specialists in the field.
Applications support —including on-site start-up training, follow up visits, applications helpline assistance and customer workshops for system enhancement training.
Marketing support —including an array of marketing tools to promote your facility to referring physicians, patients and the general community. This program has been highly effective for Hitachi customers nationwide.
It’s all in keeping with a customer service strategy that has made Hitachi a world leader in medical imaging. 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 Open MR system and the AIRIS® II Open MR system with advanced permanent magnet technology. HMSA also markets Hitachi Ultrasound products and PET imaging systems under the name of Sceptre and Sceptre XL, as well as Swissray ddR direct digital radiography systems. HMSA has established a leadership position in diagnostic imaging with more than 1,200 Open MR imaging systems installed throughout the United States and over 2,300 worldwide.
