IMPAC Medical Systems Announces 2008 Cancer Registrar of the Year

SUNNYVALE, Calif., April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- IMPAC Medical Systems, Inc., an Elekta company, and leading provider of oncology information technology solutions, today awarded the 2008 IMPAC Registrar of the Year award to Ellen Edry, CTR and Program Manager of Cancer Services at Lowell General Hospital in Lowell, Massachusetts.

IMPAC's Registrar of the Year program honors outstanding cancer registrars who make valuable contributions to the success of their registry and who extend their contributions to benefit the broader medical facility and community. This year, IMPAC received more than 40 nominations for 22 nominees, all of whom demonstrated an impressive overall level of professionalism and expertise.

Recognized for eight years of exceptional service to Lowell General Hospital, Ellen Edry is responsible for managing, organizing and developing all aspects of the hospital's cancer-related Quality Improvement activities, including supervision of the Cancer Registry and Cancer Center Transcription Departments, and coordination of quality improvement programs and enhancements within the hospital's Breast Health/Navigator Program.

In addition, Edry is very involved in LGH's community outreach programs, collaborating with the Massachusetts Comprehensive Cancer Coalition, American Cancer Society and LGH physicians and ancillary staff to develop various cancer care programs to meet the needs of Merrimack Valley's growing population.

"When I heard the news that I was selected IMPAC's Registrar of the Year, I felt honored to be awarded this honor among my peers," says Edry. "I have worked at Lowell General Hospital for the past eight years with a team of healthcare professionals that truly are second to none. I have been fortunate to "grow" my career in such a way that it has impacted the growth of our cancer program here in Lowell. Our program growth continues to create a comprehensive atmosphere for our patients. Thank you for this wonderful award. I am honored to be this year's Registrar of the Year."

"IMPAC is pleased to recognize Ellen Edry as the 2008 IMPAC Registrar of the Year," says James P. Hoey, IMPAC president and CEO. "Ellen is an exceptional registrar who makes a significant contribution to her registry and community, actively expanding her knowledge and skills to ensure that the registry optimizes data quality and utilization. Her involvement and success are admirable and terrific examples to others in the field."

IMPAC also would like to announce the recipient for honorable mention: Said Awadalla, Senior Tumor Registrar at King Faisal Hospital and Research Centre in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The first cancer registrar in Saudi Arabia, Awadalla also helped establish the National Cancer Registry in Saudi Arabia.

It has always been a goal of mine to widen the scope of the cancer registry in this part of the world," says Awadalla. "I work very hard to establish more hospital-based cancer registries in this part of the world where this concept is totally new."

About IMPAC Medical Systems, Inc.

IMPAC Medical Systems provides healthcare IT solutions that streamline clinical and business operations across the spectrum of cancer care. IMPAC's open integration to multiple healthcare data and imaging systems offers oncology-specific patient charting and practice management, as well as best-of-breed systems for anatomic pathology, clinical laboratory and cancer registry. With products that range from diagnosis and treatment through long- term follow-up, IMPAC provides a comprehensive oncology management solution that helps improve overall communication, process efficiency, and quality patient care.

IMPAC is part of the Elekta Group, providing oncologists, radiation therapists, neurosurgeons and many other medical specialists with state of the art tools to fight cancer and brain disorders.

With more than 2,000 employees globally, Elekta's corporate headquarter is located in Stockholm, Sweden and the company is listed on the Nordic Exchange under the ticker EKTAb. More information can be found at www.impac.com and www.elekta.com.

SOURCE IMPAC Medical Systems, Inc.