Siemens Addresses Cost vs. Value Issues In Healthcare and Technology
April 16 2008 - 4:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
Representatives from Capitol Hill Are Briefed on Challenges Facing
the Healthcare Industry WASHINGTON, April 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/
-- Siemens Healthcare (http://www.siemens.com/healthcare), in
association with U.S. News & World Report, hosted an exclusive
panel discussion today titled "Health Care and Technology: Cost vs.
Value," at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The event,
attended by Congressional staff, senior business executives, and
the press, examined the "value paradigm" between advances in
technology and rising healthcare costs. (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070904/SIEMENSLOGO ) A
diverse panel of experts weighed in on the topics of early and
frequent use of imaging in shortening initial clinical evaluation,
cost effectiveness and accessibility of imaging, the role of
patient education, and lessons in deploying health technology and
what the industry can expect to deliver in the near term. The panel
also examined practical ways in which government and the healthcare
industry can create consistent and generally accepted standards for
measuring new technologies, maintaining the quality of procedures
while reducing costs, and working together for future healthcare
innovation. "Sooner or later, all of us are patients. So, when we
go through these deliberations, it is always helpful to use this to
guide our decisions in the future," said Dr. Bernadine Healy,
health editor, U.S. News & World Report, who also served as
panel moderator for the discussions. The panel debated how to
measure the value of medical imaging and how to best reconcile
costs in an era of personalized medicine. The audience also heard
from the government panelists on how technology is reviewed for
potential funding and the need for evidence development when making
recommendations on medical imaging technologies. During the
question and answer period, the potential of healthcare information
technology (HIT) to improve efficiency, workflow, and outcomes was
discussed. Additionally, the use of HIT to broaden and deepen
clinical knowledge of medical imaging and its impact on
cost-effectiveness could be used to further evaluate, drive the
efficiency and the matrix of medical imaging. "It is indisputable
that advanced medical imaging has led to earlier detection of
disease, faster and more accurate diagnosis, and enables precise
minimally invasive procedures for treatment of such serious
conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer," said Thomas
Miller, chief executive officer, Workflow and Solutions, Siemens
Healthcare, who presented opening remarks to attendees at the
event. "Physicians are ordering these tests more frequently as they
believe that the result is safer treatment and better outcomes for
their patients. Therefore, the fundamental discussion is actually
whether advanced medical imaging capabilities are a driver of
escalating healthcare costs or a stabilizing factor -- which has
led Siemens to take a leadership position in bringing these issues
to the forefront." The panel included: Kerry Weems, acting
administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; Dr.
Carolyn Clancy, director, Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality; Peter R. Orszag, director, Congressional Budget Office;
the Honorable Gene Green (D-TX), U.S. House of Representatives,
member, Subcommittee on Health (Energy & Commerce); Dr. Judd E.
Hollander, professor and clinical research director, Department of
Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, and president of
the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine; and Hala Moddelmog,
president and chief executive officer, Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
About Siemens Healthcare Siemens Healthcare is one of the world's
largest suppliers to the healthcare industry. The company is a
renowned medical solutions provider with core competence and
innovative strength in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies as
well as in knowledge engineering, including information technology
and system integration. With its laboratory diagnostics
acquisitions, Siemens Healthcare is the first fully integrated
diagnostics company, bringing together imaging and lab diagnostics,
therapy, and healthcare information technology solutions,
supplemented by consulting and support services. Siemens Healthcare
delivers solutions across the entire continuum of care -- from
prevention and early detection, to diagnosis, therapy and care. The
company employs more than 48,000 people worldwide and operates in
130 countries. In the fiscal year 2007 (Sept. 30), Siemens
Healthcare reported sales of euro 9.85 billion, orders of euro
10.27 billion, and group profit of euro 1.32 billion. Further
information can be found by visiting
http://www.siemens.com/healthcare
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070904/SIEMENSLOGODATASOURCE:
Siemens Healthcare CONTACT: Tom Schaffner, +1-610-448-1477, Web
site: http://www.siemens.com/healthcare
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