Advances in Imaging Software Reduce Patient Wait Times and Helps Hospital Staff Increase Efficiency

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, radiography and fluoroscopy software has been developed to improve clinical capabilities, customization, lower costs, and streamline operational results.

GE Healthcare, a unit of General Electric Company (Chalfont St. Giles, UK), has developed four software systems to provide improved clinical capabilities, productivity, and diagnostic confidence for clinicians. Up-to-date and effective software is critical to quality care for the patient and practicality for the clinician. GE Healthcare recently announced a USD 2 billion investment in software development that is focused on enhancing asset performance, improving hospital operations management, improving clinical effectiveness and optimizing care across entire populations. “The personalized workflow and unique new clinical applications will give clinicians the information they demand with speed, convenience, and flexibility,” said Nathan Hermony, general manager for GE Healthcare’s nuclear medicine business.

An innovative MRI software platform features novel applications such as the Silent Scan. This neuro acquisition tool makes the sound of an MR scan as quiet as a whisper. “The DV24.0 Continuum Pak upgrade that includes Silent Scan is, in my opinion, the most innovative approach in MRI in the last few years that will make a significant contribution in the chain of diagnosis,” said Jean-Marc Pinon, manager of MR and computed tomography (CT) at CHR Laennec (Creil, France).

DV24.0 Continuum Pak is available on the Optima MR450w, Optima MR450w with GEM, Discovery MR750, and Discovery MR750w with GEM scanners. With DV24.0, productivity enhancements of up to 30% compared to earlier versions are now possible with new features such as the eXpress PreScan and Workflow 2.0, increasing efficiency by reducing the number of mouse clicks for technologists. DV24.0 also features enhancements to increase diagnostic effectiveness. By evaluating the top clinical needs and trends, the GE MRI system has improved 3D imaging through a real-time motion correction technique called PROMO that automatically compensates for head motion.

Moreover, DV24.0, with FOCUS, has the ability to optimize for image quality and signal to noise. FOCUS provides high-resolution, organ-specific diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) for a small field of view. Mavric SL, a new technique designed for imaging the joints of patients with MR-conditional implants, is also featured in the DV24.0.

GE Healthcare has expanded its suite of enterprise imaging systems to help lower information technology (IT) costs, improve clinician productivity, expand networks of care, and enhance diagnostic effectiveness. The Centricity 360 systems connect unaffiliated clinicians and patients through a professional online collaboration tool and gives them secure on demand access to imaging applications. Centricity 360 is the newest addition to GE’s Predictivity solutions, which uses the Industrial Internet to help industrial organizations achieve zero unplanned downtime and optimal productivity. Additionally, GE Healthcare’s enterprise imaging systems include Centricity picture archiving and communication system (PACS) with Universal Viewer and Centricity Clinical Archive.

GE Healthcare’s iCenter provides instant access to key data such as asset status, location, maintenance history, and use and planning, which helps enable data-driven decisions and improved operational results. Information is now easier to sift through with a more dynamic, customizable and colorful user interface. Features include fewer clicks, a built-in analytics engine for more visual and intuitive data depiction, user security enhancements, and integrated guided tours. iCenter is the platform for future GE Healthcare’s online service applications.

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