Certification increases Canon potential with NHS Trusts

Canon aims to increase market share in healthcare sector with Cerner certification

Canon, a world leader in digital imaging technology, looks set to increase market share in the healthcare sector with its announcement that seven of its office products have been granted certified status by healthcare IT specialist Cerner - subcontracted to provide software to the NHS in the South of England and London.

The certification means that Canons MFPs can be used in conjunction with Cerner Millennium software, which enables the delivery of electronic patient records so that they can be accessed by healthcare professionals regardless of location under the NHSs Connecting For Health Programme. Currently some critical patient records have to be shared by healthcare professionals via email, letter, fax and phone, so the programme is designed to reduce errors, use resources more efficiently and transform the delivery of care.

Canon currently has in excess of 30% share in the healthcare market, but the ongoing certification of its products means that they can seamlessly be incorporated into future projects in the NHSs National Programme for IT where Cerner Millennium is the main platform. Cerner supplies healthcare IT solutions to the three Strategic Health Authorities in the South of England and London, which comprise 142 healthcare trusts that deliver services to more than 20 million people.

The devices that are currently certified all have the PostScript drivers needed to deliver clinical applications and were independently tested by Cerner to ensure that they are compatible with the Millennium solutions.

As well as linking with the Cerner Millennium software, the integration of Canon multifunctional devices means that NHS Trusts will be able to reduce their print spends by at least 35% through the introduction of a balanced deployment of print equipment, i.e. using the right device for the right job by combining desktop and multifunctional printers to reduce cost and unnecessary waste. For example, cartridge-based desktop printers are ideal for printing low volumes, but can be costly if used for all printing needs.

Adam Poole, Head of Channel Marketing, Canon Business Solutions said: With the ongoing implementation of the Connecting For Health Programme across all NHS Trusts in the South and London, this certification represents an opportunity for Canon UK to grow its share in the healthcare sector. But its also an opportunity for NHS Trusts to cut their print spends through the implementation of the most appropriate office equipment. This increased efficiency will free up money that can be spent on delivering frontline patient services, in line with the Gershon Review.

The seven Canon products with Cerner certification are the iR2270, iR2870, iR3570, iR4570, iR3025,  iR3035 and the iR3045.

About Canon (UK) Limited

Canon is a world-leading innovator and provider of imaging and information technology solutions for the home and office environments.

Canon has a global philosophy of Kyosei - living and working together for the common good, which clearly demonstrates commitment to customers, staff and the environment shared by all.

Canon (UK) Ltd is the UK marketing and sales operation for the US$32 billion global company based in Tokyo, Japan.  In the UK Canon employs around 2,000 people in various locations including Ireland and has achieved sales of 541m in 2005.

The main business focus for Canon (UK) Ltd is in two clearly defined market segments: Business Solutions covering both the office and professional printing environments (including: multifunctional printers, IT consultation, photocopiers, printers, large format printers, fax machines, document management hardware & software) and Consumer Imaging (input solutions: film and digital cameras, camcorders, binoculars and scanners; and output solutions: Ink Jet printers, fax machines, desktop multifunctionals and multimedia LCD projectors).