Two of the biggest players in diagnostic medical imaging are teaming up to advance energy-efficient green radiology services.
Siemens Healthineers and the University of California, San Francisco, are creating the first-ever carbon-neutral imaging outfit, the pair announced Wednesday. Erlangen, Germany-based Siemens will leverage its “smart” solutions to track energy use across new, green MR imaging equipment being utilized at UCSF.
The collaborators also plan to investigate methods for reducing the amount of energy MRI machines require in standby mode. As imaging grows increasingly integral to medical care, reducing the specialty’s carbon footprint will be crucial.
“Healthcare is estimated to be responsible for up to 5% of global net emissions, and imaging almost certainly contributes to an outsized share of that total,” said Christopher P. Hess, MD, PhD, professor and chair of the UCSF Department of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging. “Our goal is to find a way for radiology departments worldwide to reduce our environmental footprint. I can think of no better place than UCSF to begin the pioneering work.”
Additionally, the partners are seeking to enhance patient access to high-quality imaging in the Northern California region via mid-field MRI technologies and artificial intelligence. Part of that effort involves new Siemens scanners that require less helium, space and power compared to conventional machines.
“Siemens Healthineers is very excited about the innovation partnership with UCSF to bring MRI to places it has never been before, advancing the access and quality of radiological imaging in Northern California, while simultaneously working towards sustainable, eco-friendly healthcare,“ David Pacitti, president and head of the Americas at Siemens, said Wednesday.
Read more about the partnership here.
Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.