Dr. Rolf Lucas, President & CEO, GE Healthcare Germany
GE Launches “healthymagination” Initiative
More than US-$ 3 bn: this is the huge figure General Electric has pledged to invest in our sector in the next six years. The aim, explained Georg Knoth, CEO and Regional Executive for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, at a recent presentation in the GE Research Centre near Munich, is to provide better access to care for more people at reduced cost. Furthermore, the vendor will make available US-$ 2 bn for financing and US-$ 1 bn to drive health IT and care in rural and underserved regions. These activities – which build on the experiences gained from the ecomagination initiative – are designed to foster the growth of the company.
These investments by GE – a 100% increase, according to company speakers – are the pillars of the “healthymagination” initiative. It comprises a series of projects to be realized by 2015. The investment of US-$ 3 bn in research and development, e.g., is set to launch at least 100 innovative products on to the market, to lower the cost, to increase the availability of health-related services, and to boost quality of care by 15%. The company will also apply its expertise in services and its suite of performance improvement tools.
“We will work with partners”, said Dr. Rolf Lucas who heads GE Healthcare Germany, “to focus innovations on four critical needs: accelerating healthcare IT; target high-tech products to more affordable price points; broaden access to the underserved; and support consumer-driven health”. GE will engage experts and leaders on policy and programs and create a GE Health Advisory Board, which will include former US senators Bill Frist and Tom Daschle as well as further leaders from the sector.
Targets And Examples
healthymagination will draw on capabilities from GE divisions such as Healthcare, Capital, Water, NBC Universal, the Global Research Centres as well as the GE Foundation, the vendor’s philanthropic arm. “Healthcare is an important industry that is challenged by rising costs, inequality of access, and persistent quality issues,” underlined GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt. “[The sector] needs new solutions. We must innovate with smarter processes and technologies that help physicians and hospitals deliver better healthcare to more people at a lower cost. The new products are supposed to “measurably improve cost, access and quality. That means lower-cost technology for more customers, products matched to specific local needs, and process expertise – such as low-cost digital X-ray machines, portable ultrasounds, and more affordable cardiac equipment.
Local Partners Playing A Major Role
The initiative integrates local partners; this was illustrated by the event in Munich where outstanding physicians from Germany presented state-of-the-art approaches in diagnostics and therapy. Prof. Dr. Thomas Helmberger, Head of the Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Hospital Munich-Bogenhausen, outlined the benefits of the digital information flow in radiology: By using networked communication within and outside the hospital, and through tele-radiology, the former “slow lane” of information was transformed into a communication chain which helps reduce staff capacity use and patient stay while improving quality at the same time. Tumor boards are a case in point. – Presymptomatic detection of neurodegenerative conditions by functional imaging integrating radiopharmaceuticals helps avoid damaging neurons, according to Dr. Niklas Manthey. The Head of the Nuclear Medicine Department, Radiology Munich South West, outlined how non-appropriate medication therapies can be prevented using SPECT – an annual savings potential of roughly 75 mn €. – Thermoablation of uterus myomas using focused ultrasound is an approach used by Dr. Matthias Matzko. The Head, Clinical and Interventional Radiology, Dachau Hospital, says the non-invasive method sustains fertility. The procedure, which lasts up to two hours and causes no complications, permits 100% necroses. Until now, financing of „MRgFUS“ interventions is to be handled by patients, fully or in part.
Oxford Analytica, an independent international research and consultancy firm, is reviewing GE commitments in new products and services to determine if they meet healthymagination standards. To date, the organization has qualified seven GE products that yield a 15% improvement in cost, access, and quality. The vendor’s goal is to qualify 100 healthymagination innovations by 2015.
Presenting the healthymagination initiative in Munich (from left): Georg Knoth, CEO & Regional Executive, GE Germany, Austria, and Switzerland; Dr. Carlos Härtel, Managing Director GE Global Research Centre Europe; Prof. Dr. Thomas Helmberger, Head of the Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Hospital Munich-Bogenhausen; Dr. Matthias Matzko, Head, Clinical and Interventional Radiology, Dachau Hospital; Dr. Niklas Manthey, Head of the Nuclear Medicine Department, Radiology Munich South West
