Philips Convenes 'Meaningful' Dialogue on How Healthcare IT Solutions can Contribute to Improved Patient Outcomes, Quality and Cost Efficiency

ANDOVER, Mass., March 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- At the 2010 Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) annual conference in Atlanta, Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG; AEX: PHI) will showcase how healthcare informatics solutions can help improve the quality and efficiency of patient care. This strategic focus underscores a commitment to providing advanced clinical informatics and patient monitoring solutions that complement electronic health records (EHRs) by providing actionable patient data to support clinical decision making.

The existing healthcare environment calls for a deep understanding of current issues and challenges, particularly how healthcare IT can help drive improvements for clinicians, CIOs/CMIOs, and ultimately, patients. Released in December 2009, the interim meaningful use guidelines define criteria healthcare providers must meet to qualify for subsidies made available under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. Stage one of the guidelines are intended to spur the adoption of interoperable EHRs and related technologies nationwide. In an article published in the New England Journal of Medicine in December 2009, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology Dr. David Blumenthal states, "The installation of EHRs is an important first step. But EHRs will accomplish little unless providers use them to their full potential; unless health data can flow freely to the places where they are needed; and unless HIT becomes increasingly capable and easy to use."(1)

"Healthcare providers today are looking for the best way to adopt and make use of EHRs and complementary technologies," said Deborah DiSanzo, CEO, Healthcare Informatics and Patient Monitoring, for Philips Healthcare. "While not as publicized as EHRs, these complementary technologies — solutions that generate accurate, rich data at the point of care and enable patient information to flow efficiently and securely to those who need it — are the critical factors that will determine our success in improving the healthcare system. Philips is a leading force in the drive towards delivering clear, actionable information as well as industry-wide system and device interoperability."

The Philips HIMSS10 booth will highlight examples and demonstrations of Philips advanced informatics and patient monitoring solutions in the areas of radiology, cardiology, critical care and women's health. Philips supports the goals of global healthcare transformation by providing advanced clinical decision support solutions, helping clinicians to get the most out of their EHRs and ultimately driving care protocols with validated, actionable data.

Philips rebrands portfolio of healthcare informatics solutions: introducing IntelliSphere

At HIMSS10, Philips is unveiling a new identity for its portfolio of healthcare informatics solutions — IntelliSphere. The IntelliSphere identity will help provide continuity as Philips expands its healthcare IT portfolio.  In addition, Philips' next generation of smart IT solutions that will be introduced under this new identity will reflect the company's understanding of the challenges facing healthcare IT professionals, as they will continue to provide rich, actionable information for clinical decision making.

Solutions will begin appearing under the new moniker starting in 2010. The methodology for branding products with IntelliSphere will ensure that the solutions deliver true value to the marketplace, bring significant new functionality and meet Philips' commitment to best-in-class customer experiences.

(1) Blumenthal, David, M.D., M.P.P. "Launching HITECH." Editorial. New England Journal of Medicine (2009): 382-385.

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 more than 116,000 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of US$32.3 billion in 2009, 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 flat TV, male shaving and grooming, portable entertainment and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.

SOURCE Royal Philips Electronics