November 24, 2020 — Philips announced commercial launch of the industry’s first vendor-neutral, multimodality, radiology operations command center to add secure, digital, virtual scanner access to existing imaging installs across multiple systems and sites. Making its debut at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) virtual Annual Meeting (Nov 29 – Dec 5, 2020), Philips Radiology Operations Command Center enables virtualized imaging operations via a private, secure, and auditable telepresence platform. Philips is the first company to market a radiology command center that can integrate with existing technologies and systems outside Philips.
As a multimodality (MR and CT), vendor-neutral digital hub, the Radiology Operations Command Center connects imaging experts at a central command center with technologists and onsite staff in locations across an entire enterprise for real-time, over-the-shoulder collaboration and support. Powered by Philips’ proprietary, patented operational performance management technology, Radiology Operations Command Center enables remote access to scanners across an imaging network. Its remote scanner connections are compatible with older imaging platforms, allowing customers to operationalize a ‘Hub and Spoke’ model for imaging within their current install base. Radiology Operations Command Center enables multiple use cases such as virtual imaging assistance, virtual on-demand cross-training, and remote adjustment of imaging protocols for greater standardization.
Addressing imaging technologist shortages, inconsistent workflows and quality issues
As radiology networks expand their services, they continue to experience technologist shortages, skill limitations, image quality issues, and scheduling challenges, all of which impact patient care. Variability in imaging technologist expertise and procedure quality can lead to the need for repeat scans and recalls, resulting in additional procedure and training costs. Imaging procedure training, which traditionally requires in-person onsite training, is often difficult during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Combined with challenges in maintaining business continuity resulting from staff turn-over and recruitment difficulties, both of which have been further complicated by the pandemic, today’s imaging environment requires a totally new approach.
Philips’ Radiology Operations Command Center addresses these challenges by providing virtual remote access and workflow capabilities in a secure environment. Integrated solutions linking MR and CT to the command center will help increase the value and productivity of lead technologists, minimize image quality issues, accelerate training, and reduce travel time between sites for updating protocols. Radiology Operations Command Center helps expand access to imaging across an enterprise to help improve patient outcomes, improve patient and staff satisfaction and lower the cost of care.
“We have been deeply involved in piloting Philips’ Radiology Operations Command Center on our scanners over the past year, which is already showing great potential to help enhance our workflow efficiency and training needs,” said Lawrence N. Tannenbaum, M.D., FACR, VP and Chief Technology Officer, Medical Director, Eastern Region at RadNet. “We use the technology to distribute our expertise across our network. Examples include cardiac imagers at one site helping to manage workload at other sites, while a rookie technologist doing a problematic prostate MR can get support from expert technologists at a central site. We are also leveraging the technology to centralize training, connecting people virtually to watch multiple exams on the same day from the central site. The information sharing is already showing great potential.”
Expanding access to imaging services to enable expert care
With Philips Radiology Operations Command Center, radiology departments can expand access to imaging across more locations and during more convenient hours to help meet patient demand, while increasing capacity and throughput within existing labor resources limits. Radiology Operations Command Center’s telepresence capabilities give imaging centers access to imaging experts allowing them to expand their capabilities to provide complex procedures and specialty subservices such as virtual colonoscopy, cardiac CT, Breast MRI and prostate MRI. This allows imaging providers to improve imaging exam quality to help reduce or eliminate negative patient experiences such as procedure recalls or repeats, while also helping to improve talent retention within their organization by reducing the burden on their staff.
“We understand the pain points our customers face in terms of staff variability, training levels, and the need to maintain standardization of both the imaging quality and the patient experience - pain points that have been further accentuated by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Kees Wesdorp, Chief Business Leader, Precision Diagnosis at Philips. “As an integral component of the Philips Radiology Workflow Suite being featured at RSNA this year, Philips Radiology Operations Command Center enables our customers to virtualize imaging by setting up a unique model of operations to seamlessly extend their expert talent across all sites. By working with advanced imaging partners like RadNet, we see the virtualization of imaging as a game changer in radiology workflow.”
Philips virtual platform at RSNA 2020
Starting Nov. 29 through Dec. 5, visitors to the Philips virtual RSNA platform can participate in live, on-demand sessions and explore a unique 3D environment that allows them to customize hands-on demos featuring the latest breakthrough innovations from Philips across diagnostic and interventional imaging, including Philips Radiology Operations Command Center, which is now commercially available in the U.S. market. Visit Philips Live at RSNA 2020 for more information on Philips’ integrated workflow solutions within the Radiology Workflow Suite that connect data, technology and people to redefine radiology workflow efficiencies.
Philips triple duty of care
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to highlight how interconnected the world’s social, economic and environmental challenges are. Philips remains fully focused on delivering against its triple duty of care: meeting critical customer needs, safeguarding the health and safety of its employees, and ensuring business continuity. As a purpose-driven health technology company, Philips is applying its innovation strength to improve the health and well-being of people. The company is deeply committed to doing business responsibly and sustainably, recently setting out a range of challenging new environmental, social and governance targets.
For more information: usa.philips.com
August 29, 2024 
