Philips agrees to 10-year Ireland deal to quicken clinical decisions

Healthcare technology company Philips has announced a partnership with Blackrock Clinic and software company Healthcare Software Solutions (HSS) to help speed up clinical decision making across radiology and cardiology studies.

The three groups have agreed to a 10-year contract that will provide a networked IT platform that facilitates anytime-anywhere access to multi-modality patient imaging data sets.

Philips will implement several of its products at Blackrock Clinic to assist the collection and management of cardiology investigation data and reports and reduce image analysis timings across visualisation procedures. The agreement will also involve Philips’ DoseWise 9.0 multi-vendor web-based platform to collect, measure, analyse and report data on advanced radiation exposure.

HSS will links its radiology information software with Philips workflow management solution, InteliSpace PACS, to provide enhanced reporting and specialist workflow capabilities.

John Hayes, head of IT at Blackrock Clinic Dublin said: “Bringing extensive imaging tools and clinical information points together within a single system while making resources securely available off-site is a powerful next-step in patient-centric care. With tools such as an improved appointment system for more patient choice and reduced consultant travel time, we hope to see care pathway efficiencies as part of a cost effective, future-proof, solution that will help bring care closer to the patient while unlocking clinician resource by simplifying and standardising certain processes.”

The agreement stipulates that Philips Healthcare UKI will be responsible for the clinician training, equipment maintenance and upgrades.

Elaine Murphy, Sales & Solutions manager, Philips Healthcare IT, said: “Philips is committed to making the provision of healthcare effective and intuitive. By facilitating off-site access to data with the potential for networked collaboration across clinics, economic benefits are realised while clinicians get access to the latest technology, helping to them to improve patient care and facilitate integration. UK findings within the Future Health Index, a recent report commissioned by Philips, revealed that 88% of Health Care Professionals believe integration of the health system will make the quality of care better.”

Graham Ridgway CEO, Healthcare Software Solution said: “Good clinical collaboration and communication is a cornerstone to providing the best holistic care, and information systems provide the basis of these collaborations. With industry leading solutions, we’re dedicated to ensuring clinicians have the tools they need to assess detailed information quickly and conclusively, and this announcement provides an exciting development for integrated services built around patient care.”