The future of imaging and healthcare

Healthcare can’t just change a little, it has to change dramatically,” says Gene Saragnese, Philips Healthcare executive vice president and CEO for Imaging Systems. Saragnese is addressing a roomful of journalists from all over the world at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago on the first day of RSNA, the annual convention of the Radiological Society of North America.  The 99th RSNA, held in December 2013, had the theme “The Power of Partnership”across professions.

Saragnese says,  “Philips cannot do this alone, we have collaborations around the world.”

These collaborations have resulted in innovative radiology solutions developed in partnership with clinicians, scientists, hospitals and patients, transforming the way care is delivered and improving the quality of life of patients.

“It’s not about what one thing costs, but the whole treatment and diagnosis. Getting a definitive answer quickly is important,” he says. “How to deliver better care at a lower cost is what Philips is all about. Imaging plays a central role in diagnosis and therapy. With imaging, you know if the therapy is working, within a few weeks unlike before when you had to wait for months. It allows patients to have home care instead of hospital and that is more cost-effective.”

Prof. Pabo R. Ros, chairman of the Department of Radiology-University Hospitals at Case Medical Center, adds, “Everything medicine does starts or ends with imaging.”

If you have a lump in your body, if you break a leg — the role of imaging in your diagnosis and treatment is crucial.

“You want early diagnosis. The earlier you discover breast cancer or a disease, the shorter the hospital stay and the lower the cost of treatment.”

Imaging is an 18-billion-euros market, and for Philips it is the biggest division of its healthcare business (earning the company 10 billion euros in 2012).

Year after year, Philips introduces new breakthroughs in the imaging market, expanding its integrated radiology product portfolio. RSNA has become, if you will, a vehicle for Philips to show off its new technologies, innovations and solutions over the competition. In 2012,  for instance, it introduced no fewer than 15 new products that offered its Imaging 2.0.

Last December’s RSNA was no different. Philips unveiled new solutions in CT, PET/CT, ultrasound and interventional x-ray imaging.

Vereos PET/CT and IQON spectral CT

Its Vereos PET/CT and IQon Spectral CT were developed with radiologists, a partnership that has helped drive “a transformation that has enhanced radiology’s role in all aspects of the patient’s journey, from prevention to diagnosis to recovery and after care.”

What exactly happens during a PET scan? “PET scans are three-dimensional images that provide insight into what is happening inside the body at the molecular and cellular level.  A small amount of radiotracer is injected into the patient prior to the exam, which accumulates in the body’s tissue and organs, and decays. The PET detector captures pairs of photons that are emitted from the body during this decay process and forms the image. Based on Philips’ proprietary ‘Digital Photon Counting’ technology, the ‘Digital Photon Counting’ technology, the ‘Digital Photon Counting’ technology, the ‘Digital Photon Counting’ technology, the ‘Digital Photon Counting’ technology, the

Dr. Ros says, “The quantitative accuracy and remarkably clear images that the new digital PET/CT system delivers are a key step forward.”

 In fact, a recent survey revealed that nine out of 10 referring physicians preferred Vereos digital PET/CT images over images taken with an analog system.

IQON spectral CT

Philips’ second RSNA introduction, its IQon Spectral CT system, is the world’s first spectral-detector CT system built from the ground up for spectral imaging. It uses color to identify the composition of an image without involving time-consuming protocols. In the same way that white light is made up of a spectrum of colors, the X-ray beam used in CT scanners also consists of a spectrum of X-ray energies. With the development of a fundamentally new spectral detector that can discriminate between X-ray photons of multiple high and low energies simultaneously, Philips’ IQon Spectral CT adds a new dimension to CT imaging, delivering not only anatomical information but also the ability to characterize structures based on their material makeup within a single scan. 

After a spectral CT examination, clinicians can interpret the conventional grey-scale anatomical images, and if necessary, access the spectral information that was acquired during the same scan. The IQon Spectral CT system’s retrospective on-demand data analysis is made possible via Philips’ iPatient platform, allowing clinicians to easily experience the benefits of spectral CT routinely within traditional radiology workflows. 

Due to its accessibility, speed and accuracy, CT imaging is widely used in the diagnosis of many different diseases and injuries, totaling approximately 450 million imaging procedures globally per year. Philips has consistently driven innovation in CT, most recently with the introduction of its proprietary Iterative Model Reconstruction (IMR) technology to simultaneously reduce CT radiation dose and enhance image quality for a broad range of applications. 

Alluraclarity

AlluraClarity with ClarityIQ technology, a recent breakthrough in live image guidance, was also unveiled at RSNA 2013. Developed in collaboration with interventional physicians, AlluraClarity features low X-ray dose settings and simplified workflow procedures to help improve both the user and patient experience. 

Philips’ innovative technology is designed to “recognize” what is being viewed so clinicians get answers — not just images — to help them make the best decisions to save lives, while seamless informatics solutions provide collaboration and integration of data throughout the continuum of care. 

The IntelliSpace family of clinical informatics solutions supports the analysis, interpretation and presentation of critical patient data, working seamlessly within existing hospital systems to allow clinicians to easily access and share information through the most complex clinical domains including radiology, oncology, neurology, cardiology and trauma. 

IntelliSpace Portal further supports clinical performance with ease of use, through a vendor-neutral approach, and an intuitive PACS integration. It features advanced visualization through a true multi-modality solution [computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR), nuclear medicine (NM)] automatic and quantitative measurements converted into tables and graphs for easy reporting and new applications via a yearly “heart beat” update.   

Not all about machines

Arjen Radder, presidet of Philips Healthcare for Asia Pacific, says “Our goal is to touch three billion lives by 2025 in healthcare and consumer business.”

And this includes making it less traumatic for people underdoing scans. Enhanced patient experience includes Ambient Experience Room Solutions, in which the room “is designed using dynamic lighting, video and sound to make patients feel comfortable and reduce anxiety in advance of an imaging procedure. It can lead to more patient contact, improved workflow and patient care. Ambient Experience transforms a standard imaging room into one that creates a soothing and empowering patient environment.”

“The Philips portfolio of integrated imaging and clinical informatics solutions helps to efficiently deliver quality care to more patients. Philips’ upgrade programs, service and consultancy offerings, and unique delivery models are designed to help clinicians maximize their investments by creating the shortest path to the best care at the lowest cost. 

Like Saragnese says, “Healthcare fits the innovative spirit of the company. And in the end it’s about people.”