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GE HealthCare, Hartford HealthCare Renew and Evolve Collaboration
March 14, 2024
GE HealthCare (Nasdaq: GEHC), a leading global medical technology, pharmaceutical diagnostics, and digital solutions innovator, and Connecticut-based Hartford HealthCare announced on Thursday, March 14, 2024, that they have renewed a seven-year collaboration that began in 2016 to now extend through 2030, aiming to advance the healthcare system’s mission to provide personalized coordinated quality care. The Care Alliance strives to assist Hartford HealthCare in increasing access to innovation, while decreasing the total cost of care for patients.
Hartford HealthCare will upgrade its imaging technology using a phased approach to the acquisition, deployment and redeployment of essential equipment, such as CT, PET/CT, MRI, X-ray, nuclear medicine, mammography, ultrasound and OEC 3D surgical imaging C-arm, keeping Hartford HealthCare’s imaging technologies current with the latest advancements in software, artificial intelligence and future innovations. The collaboration will increase patients’ access to GE HealthCare’s most current imaging technology, and may provide shorter scan times, reduced waiting times for care, and enable clinicians to have greater accuracy in diagnostic assessments. The agreement also includes GE HealthCare patient monitoring, anesthesia, maternal infant care and diagnostic cardiology technologies.
“Our ongoing collaboration with GE HealthCare will allow Hartford HealthCare to provide exceptional imaging services, continually upgrading our technology so patients and clinicians across our system can be confident in having access to the most up-to-date capabilities,” said Karen Goyette, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer. “This is especially important now, as technologies, equipment and training are advancing at an ever-increasing pace.”
GE HealthCare’s initial engagement with HHC led to the creation of the system’s Care Logistics Center in 2017. “The center allows us to match patients’ needs with the best care we can provide, quickly and expertly,” Goyette added. “We are looking forward to continued advances that benefit our patients and clinicians through this new collaboration.”
Many of the new imaging systems in the collaborative effort will include tested AI and machine learning software, which will augment clinical expertise. For example, Critical Care Suite 2.0 is a software solution designed to assist clinicians in the intensive care unit by providing AI-powered insights and analytics to analyze medical images and detect potential critical conditions in real-time, such as collapsed lungs or errors in chest x-ray acquisitions. By integrating seamlessly with existing systems, the Critical Care Suite 2.0 is designed to help expedite diagnosis, optimize treatment decisions, and improve patient outcomes.
Additionally, Deep Learning Image Reconstruction is the next generation image reconstruction option that uses a dedicated Deep Neural Network to generate TrueFidelity CT Images, which have the potential to improve reading confidence in a wide range of clinical applications such as head, whole body and cardiovascular, for patients of all ages. As a third example, AIR™ Recon DL employs AI to enhance image reconstruction, using deep learning algorithms to improve the quality and speed of MRI scans. By optimizing image reconstruction, AIR™ Recon DL reduces artifacts, enhances image clarity, and enables shorter scan times. It enables healthcare providers to obtain high-quality diagnostic images while improving patient comfort and workflow efficiency.
“This strategic Care Alliance builds upon a successful first seven years and incorporates new elements that will help Hartford HealthCare stay current with our latest GE HealthCare technology as it continues to evolve, minimizing technology obsolescence and optimizing clinical capabilities now and in the future,” said Catherine Estrampes, president and CEO, U.S. and Canada at GE HealthCare. “We have seen many changes to the needs of healthcare over the last several years and collaborations like this enable us to work together with patient access and care, as well as clinician experience front of mind. It enables us to keep innovating together while continuing to explore additional potential opportunities.”
Under the renewed service agreement, GE HealthCare technicians will be available in-house to repair and complete maintenance on all equipment within the scope of the collaboration. Additionally, regular upgrades to equipment will help ensure Hartford HealthCare’s fleet of imaging technology is optimized with the most innovative technology and tools available. The collaborative relationship with facilities, operations, clinical engineering and GE HealthCare’s project management and service teams will continue the holistic framework for maximizing the performance and longevity of Hartford HealthCare’s equipment with a focus on patient safety. GE HealthCare and Hartford HealthCare also will execute build-in-place upgrades with some existing MRI, CT, PET/CT, and X-rays to refresh older systems with fewer construction costs and while minimizing waste, equipment downtime and disruption to patient care.
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