Day: November 28, 2021

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Philips spotlights new and enhanced vendor-neutral radiology workflow solutions and scalable smart connected imaging systems at RSNA 2021

November 28, 2021

  • Robust portfolio of modality and PACS vendor-neutral radiology workflow solutions supports radiologists, technologists and administrators with integrated, automated AI-driven informatics to streamline workflows
  • Smart connected systems improve access to data and support advanced analytics and reporting for all aspects of the radiology service, from patient management and acquisition to interpretation and referral management
  • New enterprise scalable solutions across CT, MR, ultrasound, X-ray, informatics and image-guided therapy increase diagnostic confidence and efficiency in precision diagnosis and treatment

Amsterdam, the Netherlands and Chicago, USA – Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, will showcase how the company’s portfolio of vendor-neutral radiology workflow solutions and enterprise-scalable smart connected imaging systems is helping to increase diagnostic confidence and efficiency during the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting (November 28 – December 2, Chicago, USA). The company’s new and enhanced solutions feature an integrated approach across the imaging enterprise focused on critical areas to help meet the challenges facing radiology today.

Radiologists are often required to manage complex, disconnected workflows which negatively impact patient care and outcomes, staff experience, and cost. It is estimated that 20-50% of all radiological exams are of low value [1], while COVID-19 continues to compound the challenges facing radiologists, with 45% of radiology technologists and imaging directors reporting moderate or severe levels of job stress [2]. By taking a systems view of imaging and  radiology, Philips is helping to meet these challenges with a portfolio of end-to-end radiology solutions, allowing clinicians to confidently offer early and definitive precision diagnosis and minimally invasive treatment while managing complex operational challenges.

New smart connected imaging systems reinforce Philips’ leadership in sustainability
In 2018, Philips became the first health technology company to have its CO2 emission targets assessed and approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). In the most recent Future Health Index 2021 report commissioned by Philips, 58% of healthcare leaders expect sustainability to be a top priority in three years’ time. At RSNA 2021, Philips will demonstrate its continued leadership in introducing innovative technologies designed to make the world healthier and more sustainable.

Philips Radiology Workflow solutions and smart connected systems unveiled at RSNA  
Philips will reveal its new MR 5300, which recently received 510(k) clearance from the FDA. The new system simplifies and automates complex clinical and operational tasks with helium-free for life MR operations, driving consistent quality and sustainability for outpatient imaging centers and MR departments. MR 5300 brings advanced capabilities in a workhorse system scalable to the enterprise. Additional new AI-enhanced systems and solutions being introduced across MR include the new MR 7700 system [3], designed to deliver Philips’ highest quality diffusion imaging and advanced neuroscience sequences; Philips SmartSpeed [4], powered by the industry leading Compressed SENSE speed engine and award-winning AI technology [5], delivering fast, high-quality imaging for every patient; and MR Workspace with AI assistance, the intuitive new radiology workflow solution designed to empower technologists to enhance productivity and predictability.

Philips will also spotlight its enterprise-scalable systems in CT and ultrasound with the next generation of its CT 5100 – Incisive system, featuring the launch of CT Smart Workflow [6] and the latest release of Philips ultrasound systems EPIQ Elite and Affiniti, to allow comprehensive management and tracking of early-stage liver disease. In addition, Philips will showcase its recently released award-winning Spectral CT 7500, the latest intelligent system from Philips to deliver high quality spectral images for every patient on every scan, 100% of the time, to help improve disease characterization and reduce rescans and follow-ups – all at the same dose levels as conventional scans.

Expanding its leadership portfolio in image-guided therapy, Philips will preview the world’s first spectral detector angio-CT solution combining the company’s unique Spectral CT 7500 system and its Image-Guided Therapy System – Azurion with FlexArm in a single interventional suite solution. It aims to give interventionalists immediate table-side access to these two key imaging modalities so they can perform procedures requiring both CT and angio guidance in one room.

“It’s very exciting to be back at RSNA, both in person and through our robust virtual experience, presenting our newest advanced technology focused on patient-centric, sustainable and precise radiology solutions,” said Kees Wesdorp, Chief Business Leader of Precision Diagnosis at Philips. “Last year at RSNA 2020, we launched our Radiology Workflow solutions that connect and streamline radiology operations across the enterprise. This year, we are pleased to showcase the momentum our customers are experiencing with those solutions, and to build on that success with our newest patient-centric, AI-enabled radiology systems and solutions designed to enhance clinical confidence and staff efficiency and strengthen our leadership position in radiology.”

Year-over-year growth and momentum for Philips Radiology Workflow solutions
Philips’ vendor-neutral Radiology Workflow solutions help reduce variability and staff workload, increase productivity and enhance the patient experience. Over the past year, Philips has seen rapid adoption and successful performance for Radiology Operations Command Center, a critical component of its Radiology Workflow solutions. The vendor-neutral, multi-modality telepresence solution seamlessly connects imaging experts at a command center with technologists at scan locations across their organization, to centrally monitor every MR and CT scanner within a network from a single location. These capabilities are further extended to Philips ultrasound with Collaboration Live.  Earlier this year, Philips announced a partnership with Alliance Medical to roll out a pilot implementation of Philips’ command center across multiple locations in the UK. With an estimated shortage of 6,000 radiologists, radiographers, and advanced practitioners throughout the UK, Philips is supporting radiology departments to deal with the patient backlog and growing demand – and a radiology workforce under severe pressure – to help improve the quality and delivery of services in both the short and long term.

Illuminating the path to precision care at RSNA
Philips will demonstrate its ongoing leadership in patient management and engagement with solutions that are fully integrated into its suite of smart connected imaging systems. Featured solutions include Philips Patient Navigation Manager and the new Philips Pediatric Coaching solution, using gamification and ‘buddy system’ techniques to prepare children and their parents ahead of and during their MRI procedure to significantly enhance the patient experience.

Philips’ intuitive, AI-driven smart workflow solutions are designed to empower radiology technologists at the point of image acquisition for more confident, efficient, patient-centered care. In addition to the new AI-enhanced innovations across MR, CT, and image-guided therapy, ​AI-enabled smart workflows debuting at RSNA also include Philips Radiology Smart Assistant, designed to help radiographers improve chest X-ray acquisition accuracy with constant quality analysis and feedback.

Supporting radiologists with integrated, AI-driven enterprise scalable platforms for smart reading and reporting, Philips Clinical Workflow Management solution brings together worklist management (Workflow Orchestrator), advanced visualization (IntelliSpace Portal), clinical collaboration tools, and Interactive Multimedia Reporting into one streamlined workspace. To enable administrators with tools and data insights for continuous performance improvement, Philips Enterprise Performance Analytics – PerformanceBridge – operational informatics platform is delivering results for health systems, reducing scan times while increasing volume and streamlining operations.

More information on Philips’ newest portfolio of Radiology Workflow solutions and smart connected imaging systems featured at RSNA is available in this Philips RSNA 2021 press backgrounder.

Philips’ participation in RSNA symposiums and webinars  
Philips will be hosting two symposia with Philips executives and thought leaders during RSNA. A virtual symposium on ‘Aligning enterprise workflows: Redesigning radiology around the patient’ will take place on November 29 at 7:00am CST. An in-person corporate symposium on ‘Enabling the digital future for the patient, the radiologist and the healthcare system’ will take place on November 30 at 9:30am CST. For more information on these sessions (including how attendees can participate in the live Q&A portion with presenters), educational on-demand webinars, and details related to the company’s presence at the event, visit www.philips.com/rsna.

[1] Kjelle E, Andersen ER, Soril LJJ, van Bodegom-Vos L, Hofmann BM. Interventions to reduce low-value imaging – a systematic review of interventions and outcomes. BMC Health Serv Res. 2021 Sep 18;21(1):983. doi: 10.1186/s12913-021-07004-z. PMID: 34537051; PMCID: PMC8449221.
[2] Research report: Radiology staff in focus: An impact and satisfaction survey of radiology technologists and imaging directors, Philips, 2019.
[3] Pending 510(k). Not available for sale in the USA.
[4] Pending 510(k). Not available for sale in the USA.
[5] Adaptive-CS-Net: FastMRI with Adaptive Intelligence. 33rd Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS). Vancouver, Canada. Dec. 2019.
[6] Pending 510(k). Not available for sale in the USA.

For further information, please contact:

Kathy O’Reilly
Philips Global Press Office
Tel: + 1 978-221-8919
E-mail: kathy.oreilly@philips.com

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people’s health and well-being, and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum – from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2020 sales of EUR 17.3 billion and employs approximately 78,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.

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BRGM holds peatland product expo to boost local economy

The Peatland and Mangrove Restoration Agency (BRGM) has held a two-day exhibition that showcase the potential of peatland products in South Sumatra to improve people’s economy.

BRGM Deputy for Education and Socialization, Participation and Partnership Myrna A Safitri said peatland restoration as well as other environmental development would not run sustainably without considering the economic aspect.

“Therefore, BRGM has used the strategy of 3R, rewetting, revegetation, and revitalization. This economic revitalization has targeted people, that peatland restoration would not harm the public,” Safitri said in a statement here on Sunday.

Peatland restoration would not dispossess local people, on the other hand, it supports the government to improve people’s welfare, Safitri remarked.

The exhibition on November 27-28 in Palembang was the first of its kind held by BRGM and the South Sumatra government.

It has become an evidence of the success of peatland restoration in the past five years.

“Today, we are proud of having 10 booths in the exhibition. This is a proof for our five-year joint effort along with the regional government, village administration, community groups, and people, to see the potential of peatland that can be explored without damaging the ecosystem,” she said.

According to Safitri, the products have been sold in online market and have met the export quality standard.

Vice Governor of South Sumatra Mawardi Yahya said the exhibition was part of efforts to prevent forest and land fires.

 

Source: Antara News

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Indonesia continues to enhance cooperation with Palestine

The Indonesian government will continue to enhance cooperation with Palestine in various fields to support the Palestinian people’s struggle for independence, a Foreign Ministry official said.

One of the areas of cooperation that have been in place is the application of zero tariffs on Indonesia’s import of Palestine’s key commodities such as olive oil, fruits and dates since January 2018, Director of the Middle East at the Foreign Ministry Bagus Hendraning Kobarsyih said.

“Right now, Indonesia is also seeking to sign a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with the Palestinian government in order to help the Palestinian people conduct trade and increase economic cooperation between the two countries,” he said in a talkshow on Palestinian Solidarity Week: Millennial Peacemaker Forum monitored virtually from Jakarta on Sunday.

In this regard, the Palestinian government has proposed zero tariffs on 61 products including nuts, bolts, soap, ceramics and spices..

The discussion of PTA is directed towards enhancing trade cooperation between the two countries which currently stands at US$5 million per year, or only 0.1 percent of Palestine’s international trade.

Indonesia’s concrete support to Palestine has also been clearly shown at various international forums and through capacity building programs.

“The Indonesian government also highly appreciates contributions from various elements of the Indonesian community to provide and extend assistance among the Palestinian people,” he said.

The Palestinian Solidarity Week is held before November 29 declared by the UN as International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, to remind the world that the Palestinian issue is yet to be settled due to Israel’s continued occupation.

Indonesia has expressed deep concern about the fact that amid the COVID-19 pandemic Palestinian people continue to suffer human rights violations including arrest, demolition and illegal seizure of property by Israel.

Indonesia called for serious support from the international community to press Israel to stop the illegal act.

“Indonesia reiterates its stand to fully support the Palestinian people’s struggle for independence and sovereignty in accordance with the mandate of our constitution until two state solution is achieved in accordance with the international parameter jointly agreed upon,” he said.

 

Source: Antara News

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BRGM plants mangroves to commemorate National Tree Planting Day

Indonesia’s Peatland and Mangrove Restoration Agency (BRGM) commemorates the National Tree Planting Day, celebrated on November 28 each year, by reinforcing the planting of mangroves throughout the country to rehabilitate the ecosystem.

BRGM’s Head of Mangrove Rehabilitation Working Group for Kalimantan and Papua Agung Rusdiyatmoko said that the sustainable community involvement is one of the crucial factors for the success of the program.

“Community’s role is very important in protecting mangroves. The aim of mangrove rehabilitation is not only recovering the ecology, but also giving positive impact to the people’s economy,” he said in a statement received here on Sunday.

Rusdiyatmoko added, the aim of the national tree planting day is in accordance with the agency’s efforts to plant mangroves in a 600 thousand hectares of area until 2024.

In 2021, he said, BRGM has intensively rehabilitated 34 thousand hectares of mangroves in nine provinces, namely North Sumatra, Bangka Belitung, Riau Islands, Riau, West Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, Papua, and West Papua.

One of the rehabilitation sites is in Batu Ampar Village, Batu Ampar Sub-district, Kubu Raya District, West Kalimantan Province. The agency involved the residents to plant Rhizophora sp –a genus of mangrove tree– at 11 damaged areas.

“Many sites have completed their planting activities. Today (through the commemoration of the national day), our motivation is strengthened to meet the rehabilitation target,” Rusdiyatmoko noted.

Mangrove rehabilitation is Indonesia’s commitment to comply with the Paris Agreement. Indonesia has targeted to reduce the carbon emission by 29 percent with its own attempts and by 41 percent with international support by 2030.

Head of the Village Forest Management Agency (LPHD) of Batu Ampar Village, Hermansyah, said villagers have enthusiastically took part in the mangrove planting activity.

“Although there are only 60 people registered for the activity, actually there are more than 200 residents involved since people outside the working group also help in preparing the materials for planting, such as the seedlings and stakes,” he said.

He added that it required 35 thousand seedlings for mangrove planting in 35 hectares of land. The seedlings were purchased from local residents, hence, in addition to protecting the environment, the program could improve people’s welfare.

 

Source: Antara News

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Indonesia imposes entry ban to avoid Omicron variant: health ministry

The Indonesian Health Ministry unveiled on Sunday that an entry ban for travelers who live in or have ever visited eight African countries is imposed to anticipate the importation of cases of a new variant of COVID-19 called Omicron (B.1.1.529).

“The Directorate General of Immigration has banned visitor visas and limited stay visas, as well as refused temporary entry requests for foreigners who have lived in or visited the African regions,” Spokesperson for COVID-19 Vaccination at the ministry Siti Nadia Tarmizi said.

The countries include South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Eswatini, and Nigeria, she said, adding that the regulation takes effect within 14 days before the travelers enter Indonesia.

The Indonesian Government has continued to monitor the new virus variant through the whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis.

“Until now, the new variant has not been detected in Indonesia,” she remarked.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO)’s report, she noted that the Omicron variant can quickly transmit, easily cause COVID-19 reinfection, and reduce vaccine efficacy.

Separately, lung specialist at the Faculty of Medicine of University of Indonesia, Tjandra Yoga Aditama, suggested that the quarantine period for international travelers need to be extended to one or two weeks after they arrive in Indonesia.

“In the circular letter of the Director General of Immigration, there are exceptions for foreigners who will attend G20 meetings. However, they must undergo strict examinations and an adequate quarantine period,” he said.

He noted that WHO had classified the Omicron variant into the Variant of Concern (VOC) on November 26, 2021. Meanwhile, the virus was confirmed for the first time on November 9, 2021.

“It is possible that since November 26 there have been foreigners from those eight countries who have entered Indonesia and it is not impossible that they have been exposed to this new variant on the last two weeks,” he said.

Hence, the specialist also encouraged the need to conduct tracing on international travelers by using WGS analysis.

“Regarding the WGS analysis in our country, it still needs to be improved,” he remarked.

According to data of GISAID – a global science initiative to provides open-access to genomic data of influenza and COVID-19 viruses — as of 26 November 2021, Indonesia only had 8,906 WGS samples out of 270 million people.

Meanwhile, South Africa, with a population of less than 60 million, has submitted 23,452 WGS samples.

In addition, India has recorded 80.446 WGS samples out of 1.3 billion people.

“Our population is about a quarter of India’s population. Thus, if currently India has examined more than 80 thousand samples, we should have examined 20 thousand samples,” Aditama added.

 

Source: Antara News

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Indonesia imposes 7-day quarantine rule for international travelers

Indonesia has extended its COVID-19 quarantine period for international and Indonesian travelers arriving in the country from three days to one week to anticipate the importation of Omicron variant (B.1.1.529).

The Indonesian Government’s decision to change its COVID-19 quarantine period for international travelers was disclosed by Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan here Sunday.

The foreign nationals who had ever traveled to South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Eswatini, Malawi, Angola, Zambia, and Hong Kong (China) within the past 14 days will be denied entry, he added.

The number of countries affected by Indonesia’s temporary entry ban would periodically be evaluated, said Pandjaitan, who is also deputy head of the National Economic and COVID-19 Recovery Committee (KPC-PEN).

For Indonesians who return home from abroad but have ever traveled to the countries receiving the temporary entry ban, they will be quarantined for 14 days, he said.

The new COVID-19 quarantine period for foreign nationals and Indonesian citizens arriving in Indonesia from abroad would have been made effective at one minute after midnight on November 29, 2021, he said.

The Health Ministry would also boost genomic sequencing of COVID-19 to detect the Omicron variant, he said.

Meanwhile, Spokesperson for COVID-19 Vaccination at the ministry Siti Nadia Tarmizi said earlier that the Indonesian Government has continued to monitor the new virus variant through the whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis.

“Until now, the new variant has not been detected in Indonesia,” she remarked.

According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) report, she noted that the Omicron variant can quickly transmit, easily cause COVID-19 reinfection, and reduce vaccine efficacy.

Lung specialist at the Faculty of Medicine of University of Indonesia, Tjandra Yoga Aditama, suggested that the quarantine period for international travelers need to be extended to one or two weeks after they arrive in Indonesia.

“In the circular letter of the Director General of Immigration, there are exceptions for foreigners who will attend G20 meetings. However, they must undergo strict examinations and an adequate quarantine period,” he said.

He noted that WHO had classified the Omicron variant into the Variant of Concern (VOC) on November 26, 2021. Meanwhile, the virus was confirmed for the first time on November 9, 2021.

 

Source: Antara News

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Puan Maharani pushes for fair distribution of vaccines at IPU debate

House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Puan Maharani has highlighted the role of Indonesian parliament in handling COVID-19, and pushed for fair distribution of vaccines to all countries at the 143rd Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) General Assembly.

“During almost two years of COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to face an unprecedented global health and socio-economic crisis. Tens of millions of people are at risk of falling into extreme poverty,” she remarked while chairing the general debate of the assembly in Madrid, Spain, as quoted from a statement received here on Sunday.

She chaired the second session of the debate themed ‘Contemporary Challenges to Democracy: Overcoming Division and Building Community’ which was held at Institución Ferial de Madrid (IFEMA) Palacio Municipal, Madrid on Saturday.

Maharani has said that the number of malnourished people is predicted to increase to be more than 800 million people by 2022, while the current COVID-19 vaccine has yet to be evenly disbursed.

Hence, all communities must work together to achieve vaccine equality for everyone and everywhere.

The House speaker has also reminded that the world is currently facing a potential global warming crisis, thus all countries need to strengthen their commitment to mitigation of climate disasters.

“At the same time, developed countries must fulfill their promise to provide financing for climate change,” she emphasized.

In addition, she informed that there were some other issues discussed, such as the humanitarian crisis, as well as political, economic and social security threats due to the pandemic.

She has assessed that democracy resilience was also challenged by COVID-19.

“The postponement of elections has occurred in various countries due to the restriction of people’s movement,” she stated.

Maharani has emphasized that good governance is needed amid the pandemic, hence the parliament must strive well.

According to her, it aims to accommodate people’s aspirations and facilitate dialogue between people with different backgrounds.

“Parliament must maintain a democratic, inclusive, and prosperous society. Parliament must be able to resolve the challenges of our changing world,” she continued.

She said that in times of crisis, parliament must continue to carry out its functions, including carrying out checks and balances to avoid the abuse of power amid the pandemic, and guaranteeing human rights and freedom of expression.

The role of parliament amid the crisis is more significant than prior to be able to maintain public trust in public institutions, hence their policies can be accepted by the people, she said.

 

Source: Antara News

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RI refuses entry to travelers from 11 countries over Omicrom variant

The Indonesian Government has decided to refuse entry to international travellers from 10 African countries and Hong Kong (China) as precautionary measures against the importation of new COVID-19 variant named Omicron (B.1.1.529).

The 10 African countries are South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Leshoto, Mozambique, Eswatini, Malawi, Angola, and Zambia.

“This policy will be valid soon in 24 hours,” Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment .Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said in an online press conference Jakarta on Sunday.

The number of countries may decrease or increase based on the results of the government’s periodic evaluation, he said.

“We will look at it in 14 days’ time. But we will keep evaluating it everyday. Because of that, once again I should like to inform whether this new variant, as experts suggested, is as deadly as other variants or is more severe than Delta variant. This is a big question mark. So we will not hurry,” he said.

Luhut said the government had held a meeting in response to the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Although the new variant is spreading in Africa, 13 countries announced that they have detected confirmed and probable cases of Omicron variant in their countries.

The Omicron variant has been detected in Germany, Belgium, Britain, Israel, Australia, and Hong Kong.

“Looking at the distribution (of the new variant) in those countries, we cannot rule out the possibility that the Omicron variant has spread to many other countries,” he said.

Moreover, the new variant is claimed to have five mutations that may affect the transmission speed and the capability of virus to avoid antibody formed by vaccine or antibody produced naturally due to infection caused by the previous variant of COVID-19.

 

Source: Antara News

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