Royal Philips (NYSE:PHG) and Paracelsus Clinics announced today that they entered into an eight-year strategic partnership to continue modernizing Paracelsus Clinics’ medical imaging systems.
Switzerland-based Paracelsus Clinics intends to work with Philips on imaging system availability and equipment operation while strengthening efficiency and increasing quality, according to a news release.
Paracelsus Clinics head of the procurement management office Florian Distler said in the news release that Philips won Paracelsus over with an innovative concept for digitalization that will help “interlink outpatient, inpatient and rehabilitation at home.”
“In addressing the challenges of the future, offering the latest technological innovations is only the first step,” said Peter Vullinghs, Philips Market DACH senior VP & GM. “In our strategic partnership with Paracelsus, we want to firmly anchor quality and efficiency as key success factors, not only at the structural level but also at the process level. It’s the only way we can achieve more together.”
One project on which the companies plan to collaborate is the installation of Philips’ informatics artificial intelligence (AI) research suite, IntelliSpace Discovery, in the Paracelsus Elena Clinic in Kassel, Germany. Paracelsus plans to use the system’s AI capabilities to advance research for neurodegenerative diseases and to develop machine learning algorithms for specific questions.
Philips is also set to offer the clinic its mixed reality (MR) technology to support diagnosis and treatment in acute neurology care. Philips’ healthcare transformation services department is already working with Paracelsus representatives to optimize ultrasound imaging. The team plans to develop recommendations for needs-based solutions with uniform operator interfaces and to improve ultrasound probe compatibility.
Philips will service its own technology at Paracelsus, along with third-party technology. Meanwhile, Paracelsus intends to use Philips’ PerformanceBridge operational informatics platform to gain insights into the performance and utilization of its imaging solutions.
“Paracelsus is committed to providing integrated care close to where people live in Germany,” Paracelsus CEO Dr. Martin Siebert. “With Philips, we now have a partner by our side who will support us in expanding this position and strengthen our future viability through its strengths in innovation and its digital competence.”
