Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc. and the Emory Healthcare Innovation Hub recently formed a strategic partnership that aims to positively impact healthcare in the U.S. by addressing some of the significant problems affecting clinicians and patients. Emory Healthcare, one of the nation’s most comprehensive academic health systems, and Konica Minolta Healthcare, a leader in medical imaging systems, healthcare IT and precision medicine solutions, together will innovate care pathways through the adoption of new technologies and clinical workflows, as well as develop new solutions to advance personalized patient care with the goal of contributing to a patient-centered healthcare ecosystem.
This strategic partnership through the Emory Healthcare Innovation Hub combines the sophisticated capabilities of Konica Minolta's healthcare technology, uniquely integrating medical imaging, informatics and genetics with the world-class academic research capabilities of Emory’s Woodruff Health Sciences Center. It is focused on advancing consumer-driven healthcare solutions and the development of evidence-based, data-driven healthcare applications through a collaborative environment.
Initially Konica Minolta and the Emory Healthcare Innovation Hub will focus on solutions that enhance diagnostic capabilities for clinicians and their patients in orthopedics and sports medicine, breast imaging and personalized medicine. Emory Healthcare will be the first clinical site to implement Konica Minolta‘s Dynamic Digital Radiography (DDR) for orthopedics. DDR is an enhanced X-ray technology that enables clinicians to observe the dynamic motion of anatomical structures over time, enhancing diagnostic capabilities. Exa Mammo, a PACS designed specifically for breast imaging studies, will be implemented in the oncology department to provide rapid viewing of breast images, improving clinical workflow for the breast oncologists. The organizations will also explore new solutions and approaches in precision medicine and the further integration of genetics in care delivery with Ambry Genetics, a Konica Minolta company.
“Konica Minolta is excited to partner with Emory University and the Emory Healthcare Innovation Hub to drive innovation and improve patient care, from primary imaging to precision medicine,” says David Widmann, president and CEO of Konica Minolta Healthcare. “Emory’s model of innovation is founded on the idea that industry and healthcare providers, together, can solve problems faster than either alone. Konica Minolta has a deep history of bringing innovation to healthcare and we have a shared vision that imaging and genetics, along with rapid access to an individual’s complete medical record, will enable clinicians to deliver healthcare in an enhanced manner that drives the future of personalized medicine.”
“We look forward to partnering with Konica Minolta Healthcare to explore ways to innovate the diagnosis and management of orthopedic and sports injuries, including pain management, that drive value to patients in ways that will help them live their healthiest lives,” says Scott D. Boden, M.D., vice president of business innovation for Emory Healthcare and chief medical/quality officer for Emory University Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital. “With Konica Minolta and the resource of the Emory Healthcare Innovation Hub ecosystem, we will broaden the connection between digital imaging, genetics and drug discovery in the diagnosis and management of injuries and diseases.”
The Emory Healthcare Innovation Hub will hold the inaugural event of its #REALizingINNOVATION Series on July 10 featuring Konica Minolta Healthcare. The event will include Boden and Widmann, who will share insights and projects underway to advance the future of personalized medicine. A livestream of the event will be available via Twitter at @11teninnovation.