Range of healthcare offerings help Philips customers reduce critical time to treatment for heart attack patients

Philips simplifies cardiac care through innovative cardiology systems that facilitate diagnosis and treatment and extend healthcare into the home

Published: 04/01

ANDOVER, MA, USA - (HealthTech Wire) - Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG; AEX: PHI) today demonstrated the company’s strategy to help caregivers more efficiently focus on specific cardiac conditions by bolstering the entire continuum of care required to support a cardiac patient from illness to wellness—whether it is coronary artery disease, stroke or heart failure. Throughout the annual American College of Cardiology (ACC) meeting in Chicago, Philips will highlight its complete, dynamic portfolio of cardiology solutions. The company is addressing the needs of cardiology customers seeking to improve care by helping customers reduce time to treatment for certain heart attack patients, generating vivid computed tomography (CT) scans to efficiently diagnose cardiac patients in the emergency room, enabling unparalleled live 3D ultrasound scans of the beating heart to assist surgery planning, and making it possible to monitor cardiac patients in their homes.

Philips’ cardiology solutions help providers reduce time to treatment for Phoenix-area heart attack patients by nearly 45 minutes

Every minute counts for many heart attack patients.  In the case of patients suffering from a class of heart attacks called ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the current ACC recommended “door to balloon” (D2B) protocol—referring to time from patient’s hospital arrival to balloon catheter inflation within the patient’s blocked artery—is less than 90 minutes. Philips’ technologies can help hospitals reduce D2B time by clearing a path from discovery to treatment.

First, the Philips HeartStart MRx monitor/defibrillator enables paramedics to wirelessly transmit vital 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) data on the heart’s condition while en route to the hospital. Once this data is received, caregivers move into action, preparing the catheterization (cath) lab before the patient arrives. Philips informatics solutions throughout the D2B care cycle deliver instant access to and seamless sharing of clinical information throughout the hospital. Inside the emergency department and cath lab, Philips cardiovascular imaging equipment helps clinicians pinpoint issues in the heart and allows for confidently planned and executed interventional procedures.

Some of these advanced solutions are helping the community of Glendale, Arizona save valuable time for critical STEMI patients. Outfitted with a HeartStart MRx in every fire engine, the Glendale Fire Department utilizes the innovative pre-hospital triaging technology when a patient displays symptoms consistent with STEMI.

“HeartStart MRx has reduced D2B times, as previously we would have to obtain the 12-lead ECG inside the hospital and wait for a decision on next treatment steps,” said Daniel Wintrow, captain and paramedic with the Glendale Fire Department. “Now, our paramedics are able to send digital quality 12-lead ECG data to the hospital while in transit, which can dramatically cut down on time and help physicians make decisions about appropriate care before arrival.”

“With this new capability, we can mobilize resources quickly, better manage and activate the cath lab, and get interventionalists to the hospital for timely and expedited care,” said Dr. Marc Kates, cardiologist, Banner Thunderbird Medical Center in Glendale, Ariz. “By carefully planning and implementing well defined processes and taking advantage of new technologies, our hospital has experienced reductions in D2B times. We are currently right around the recommended 90 minute guideline, and have seen as much as 44 minute reductions versus our previous averages.”

As a patient moves through the continuum of cardiac care and receives care in the ambulance, emergency department, diagnostic imaging center, cath lab, operating room and/or critical care ward, Philips helps to manage the flow of patient information, making it available when and where it is needed to empower providers to offer better, faster care. Philips is uniquely positioned to help customers in each of these settings, as well as the home.

Philips strengthens cardiology informatics offerings with acquisition that will help to manage the flow of patient information relative to cardiac care

Last week, Philips announced it will acquire TOMCAT Systems Ltd. based in Northern Ireland. TOMCAT offers a software solution that is able to aggregate, from various sources, data relative to the cardiac care of a patient and presents this in a comprehensive patient-centric view for doctors and nurses. This equips caregivers with a strong tool to help monitor progression of treatment, enable better informed decision making and manage patient care.

“Philips recognizes the challenges healthcare providers face in cardiology, and we believe that while diseases may be complex, using advanced technologies to assist in diagnosing, treating and managing cardiac patients should not be difficult,” said Joris van den Hurk, vice president of Cardiology care cycles, Philips Healthcare. “Philips’ solutions are designed to simplify cardiac care. Our cutting-edge imaging and information management tools, which can provide fast, non-invasive, 3D views of the heart, help clinicians better evaluate patients, while Philips’ home healthcare systems help monitor patients with chronic heart disease after hospital discharge, enabling greater independence and convenience.”