Philips Prompts Discussion at TEDMED: Shouldn't Health Care Be Designed Around Those Who Need It Most?

ANDOVER, Mass., April 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Philips Electronics (AEX: PHI, NYSE: PHG) sparks a discussion around what the future of health care should look like at TEDMED 2012, an annual multi-disciplinary gathering where leaders of all sectors of society come together to explore the promise of technology and human achievement in health and medicine.

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Capitalizing on the opportunity to begin a discussion with more than 1,000 top health care industry leaders, Philips poses some provocative questions: What happens when we focus on some of health care's most pressing problems? When we draw our inspiration from listening and observing what patients and caregivers really experience? What if innovation was measured not only by improving medical outcomes, but also in the human terms of relief, peace-of-mind and hope? In other words – shouldn't health care be designed around those who need it most?

"Participating in TEDMED presents an amazing opportunity for Philips to tap into the collective intelligence of the health care industry's most innovative thinkers," said Kristina Isakovich, chief marketing and strategy officer at Philips Healthcare. "We hope to uncover insights that will help us design, develop and deliver the most patient-focused health care solutions possible."

Philips is known for developing and delivering meaningful innovations that improve patient lives—from state-of-the art products that help to improve comfort and compliance for sleep-disordered breathing to advanced clinical solutions that raise the bar on patient care throughout the care cycle.  At this year's TEDMED, Philips will highlight its insightful design process, along with a distinct and diverse selection of solutions that showcase Philips unique approach to designing for a wide variety of patient needs:

• Design Lab—Sleep: TEDMED delegates can experience what it means to design around those who need it most by participating in live, hands-on sessions in the Philips Design Lab in the Social Hub. The goal is to wrap minds and hands around the critical issue of sleep and provide a glimpse into how Philips analyzes problems and develops solutions.
• Ambient Experience KittenScanner: high quality MRI and CT images are best acquired with receptive, relaxed patients. However, having a scan can be scary for kids. KittenScanner helps children get comfortable with the process by using a simulated, small scale scanner that simulate the procedure by "scanning" a toy to see its insides. As children play with the KittenScanner, their attention is focused on learning and having fun, so they are less likely to worry about the upcoming procedure.
• LightGuide: these panels are comprised of a series of multicolored light bulbs, and can be used by educators as diagnostic and educational tools to help children develop and sharpen skills to help them better engage with their surroundings.
• Chulha stove: this healthy cooking stove addresses a problem prevalent in rural areas of many developing nations – traditional indoor cooking stoves can create smoky, unsafe environments that beget dangerous health effects. The Chulha burns bio-mass fuel efficiently and directs cleaned smoke out of houses through a chimney, mitigating the potential for smoke inhalation.

TEDMED takes place April 10 – 13, 2012 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

For more information, please visit www.philips.com/whathappens.

About Royal Philips Electronics   
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people's lives through timely innovations. As a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle and lighting, Philips integrates technologies and design into people-centric solutions, based on fundamental customer insights and the brand promise of "sense and simplicity." Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 122,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 22.6 billion in 2011, the company is a market leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as lifestyle products for personal well-being and pleasure with strong leadership positions in male shaving and grooming, portable entertainment and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.

SOURCE Royal Philips Electronics