Siemens calls for more integration between diagnostics and data
The diagnostic tools are in place, but the link between imaging machines and data management systems needs to be tighter if cardiovascular practices have any hope of keeping up with the ever-growing patient volume. That is the message from Siemens Medical Solutions this week at the American Heart Association's (AHA) Scientific Sessions in Chicago.

The company noted that with more patients undergoing diagnostic care more often, conventional data management resources need to be updated to manage the images and information of today's leading technologies. Non-integrated workflow and information ultimately will negatively impact the quality of care, as well as increase the costs for patients and practices alike.

"The integration of workflow and information is key to the efficiency needed to address the growing demand for cardiology services," said Bappa Choudhury, vice president of Segment Management, Global Solutions. "Cardiovascular practices can pursue the latest in diagnostic imaging technology, but without a data management system to catch and manage the information produced by this technology, physicians will not achieve the levels of productivity they will need to get the most value out of these investments."

Typically diagnostic cardiovascular practices have existed in separation, Siemens said. Departments would benefit from integrated data management to allow clinicians to be more efficient and to save costs – and most importantly better serve patients.

To this end, the company highlighted a number of technologies:
  • SOMATOM Definition, a dual source computed tomography (CT) system that provides 0.33 seconds per rotation-electrocardiogram(ECG)-synchronized imaging with 83-millisecond temporal resolution;
  • The ACUSON Sequoia ultrasound system. The system’s 12.0 release includes applications such as the syngo Arterial Health Package which allows evaluation of cardiac risk factors and quantification of cardiovascular age with automated intimal-media thickness measurements;
  • c.cam cardiac gamma camera that designed to improve imaging accuracy and efficiency;
  • Hybrid imaging technology, such as Biograph PET-CT and TruePoint PET-CT;
  • syngo TWIST, a new technique for 4D magnetic resonance (MR) vascular imaging;
  • syngo BEAT, which combines the best of cardiac MRI - morphology, function, tissue characterization and 3D coronary anatomy in one tool;
  • Advanced CT software, such as syngo Circulation, a dedicated system for cardiac evaluation;
  • syngo US Workplace, an offline ultrasound workstation that enables ultrasound image post-processing, re-measurements, and advanced diagnostic application tools;
  • syngo Dynamics a multi-modality, image review, diagnosis and archiving system;
  • AXIOM Sensis, a recording system for electrophysiology and hemodynamics; and
  • Soarian Cardiovascular Enterprise, a web-based, scalable system that supports diagnosis, to treatment, and follow-up care.
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