GE Healthcare holds panel discussion on trends, technology and innovation

Main Category: Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 23 Jul 2004 - 14:00 PDT

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Increasing knowledge of the human genome, wider acceptance of digital and wireless technology, and the use of advanced imaging systems are rapidly changing the face of the healthcare industry. As a result, transformation of the healthcare paradigm from "after-the-fact treatment" to "before-onset care" is well underway. These and other observations were discussed as part of an unique panel discussion hosted by GE Healthcare (NYSE: GE) President and CEO Joe Hogan and other national health care leaders at "Imagination Nation", a technology showcase sponsored by GE in Washington D.C.

In his opening remarks, Hogan addressed the major trends and challenges facing the healthcare system, including aging populations, increasing costs, shrinking capital and the need to increase quality of care and decrease medical errors. Hogan outlined GE Healthcare's vision and plans to help tackle many of these issues.

"Through innovative technology, GE's goal is to help healthcare and medical institutions worldwide bring a new level of care to patients, including enhanced clinical accuracy, speed and efficiency, while at the same time reducing costs," said Hogan. "One of our goals in transforming healthcare is to create new, improved clinical processes enabled by information technology. As we've already seen at digitally advanced hospitals, information technology can help improve efficiencies, reduce costs and errors and increase the overall quality of patient care."

Also commenting on innovation and trends in the healthcare industry were Phyllis E. Greenberger, President and CEO of the Society for Women's Health Research; David Veillette, CEO & President, The Indiana Heart Hospital, the first all-digital heart hospital; James M. Rippe, M.D., Founder and Director of Rippe Lifestyle Institute and Associate Professor of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine; and Gene Saragnese, Vice President, Global Technology, GE Healthcare.

"As we move to a new 'predict and prevent' paradigm, molecular medicine, advanced imaging and informatics will play a major role," said Hogan. "As the industry embraces this change the ultimate benefactor will be the patient - who will have more information and control over their healthcare than ever before."

Heart Disease and Information Technology Spotlight

Two significant areas of discussion on the panel included the growing risk of heart disease and the benefits of Information Technology in the healthcare industry. Heart disease impacts one of every two Americans and is the number one cause of death for women in America. According to Dr. Rippe, an internationally known cardiac expert and author of "Heart Disease for Dummies", a national best seller on the subject, heart disease in general is a problem sorely underestimated by the public in general and women in particular.

Dr. Rippe notes that over 450,000 women die each year from various kinds of cardiovascular disease - with more than 250,000 of these deaths coming from coronary artery disease alone. Put in context, these figures represent the fact that coronary artery disease itself causes more mortality than the next seven causes of death combined and more women die each year of cardiovascular disease than all other causes of death combined, he reported.

"Every person needs to know that 80 percent of heart disease can be prevented with simple measures including increased physical activity, proper diet and regular check-ups and an active dialogue with their physician," said Dr. Rippe, who is also founder and director of the Rippe Health Assessment at Celebration Health in Orlando, FL.

To educate and raise awareness among women about the importance of preventive health behavior in the early detection and treatment of heart disease, GE Healthcare has partnered with Meredith Corporation, one of the nation's leading media and marketing companies, in a yearlong campaign supporting the American Heart Association's women's heart health initiative, "Go Red." The unique partnership combines advertising, editorial, seminars, web outreach and promotion to help communicate the preventative measures women can take to ensure their own heart health.

"The combination of innovative technology, education and outreach is critical. We need to positively change attitudes and actions - so that fewer women and their families get heart disease," said Dr. Rippe.

"GE is proud to be part of this innovative partnership with Meredith to help educate and inspire women to take action about their heart health," said Hogan. "Prevention and early diagnosis of heart disease can make a positive difference for women and their families - we want to make 2004 the year we helped make an impact on women's awareness and response to this critical health issue."

Phyllis Greenberger, MSW, President and CEO of the Society for Women's Health Research, called on the members of the panel to continue their efforts to research and develop new treatments that will improve the health of women.

The Society for Women's Health Research advocates for increased funding for research on women's health, encourages the study of sex differences that may affect the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, and promotes the inclusion of women in medical research studies.

Healthcare Informatics Changing The Face of Care

Advanced digital diagnostic technology and clinical information systems are also helping to shape the future of Healthcare, with the ultimate goal being to have patient information travel at least as fast as the patient throughout their healthcare experience. By giving clinicians access to critical patient information when and where it's needed, better and faster care decisions can be made.

GE and The Indiana Heart Hospital, the nation's first comprehensive all-digital heart hospital, set out to create a new healthcare environment that delivers better and more efficient care to help people with heart disease. Because of the all-digital environment at the facility, which opened in February 2003, healthcare providers are able to spend more time at patients' bedsides delivering care.

The Indiana Heart Hospital is an industry model and considered by many to be the "hospital of the future" prototype for care facilities across the country.

"Together, The Indiana Heart Hospital and GE are changing the face of healthcare," said David Veillette, President & CEO of The Indiana Heart Hospital. "Our facility is completely focused on enhancing patient safety and providing patients with the most advanced, specialty care available today to combat heart disease.

"The all digital systems at The Indiana Heart Hospital mean that physicians can have life-saving information about patients in a keystroke rather than having to wait hours or even days for critical medical records and results from previous tests or treatment," added Veillette. "This time savings and efficiency is critical especially when diagnosing and treating people with heart disease.

"We're so totally committed to a paperless, digital environment that we don't even have nursing stations. Instead, all of our clinicians input and retrieve patient information right at the bedside, which helps them deliver safer, more accurate patient care," said Veillette.

GE's "Imagination Nation" will showcase some of the world's most advanced technologies. Each of the eleven technologies on display, including the GE Healthcare exhibit, are a testament to what results when thousands of researchers and scientists put imagination to work. The next-generation technologies featured at Imagination Nation were built by forward-thinking minds that sought to address tomorrow's needs in addition to the concerns of today. The public is invited to walk through Union Station, the most visited site in Washington D.C., to experience this technology first-hand. Imagination Nation will run from March 10th to 19th in the Main Hall at Union Station.

About GE Healthcare

GE Healthcare is a $10 billion leader in medical imaging, point-of-care systems, healthcare services, and information technology. Its offerings include networking and productivity tools, clinical information systems, patient monitoring systems, anesthesia and respiratory care, maternal-infant care systems, surgery and vascular imaging, conventional and digital X-ray, dental imaging, computed tomography, electron beam tomography, magnetic resonance, ultrasound and bone mineral densitometry, positron emission tomography, nuclear medicine, and a comprehensive portfolio of clinical and business services. For more than 100 years, health care providers worldwide have relied on GE Healthcare for high quality medical technology and productivity solutions. For more information, visit the GE Healthcare web site at http://www.gemedical.com.