DeKalb Medical Center Selects Imaging Technology from Siemens to Put New Hillandale Facility on Cutting-Edge of Medicine

MALVERN, PA & LITHONIA, GA -- 12/21/2004 -- Siemens Medical Solutions announced that it will provide DeKalb Medical Center at Hillandale with the majority of its imaging equipment and related information technologies (IT) through a $12 million agreement. DeKalb Medical Center at Hillandale is a new, state-of-the-art hospital with 100 private patient rooms that is scheduled to open in summer 2005. This facility will combine the very latest in medical technology with the expertise of DeKalb Medical Center’s physicians and staff to further extend quality healthcare to the residents of south DeKalb County.


“Siemens technology will provide DeKalb Medical Center at Hillandale with the most state-of-the-art facility and services, second to none in the community,” said Gary Hixson, M.D., Chief of the Department of Radiology, DeKalb Medical Center. “With the most innovative technology available, we will see better efficiencies and raise the quality of care to entirely new levels.”

As part of the facility’s opening, Siemens will install a wide range of imaging technologies for optimal diagnostic and therapeutic treatments including advanced flat panel radiography systems, 16-slice CT, echocardiography, ultrasound, Single Photo Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), C-arm and mammography systems. Highlights include:

-- SOMATOM(R) Sensation 16, the benchmark in imaging and early diagnosis, capable of acquiring 32 slices per second when operating at its maximum rotation speed. This increased speed offers vast imaging improvement for various applications, including cardiac, and easier image acquisition for patients who have difficulty holding their breath. All patients are subject to shorter examinations, an increase in patient comfort, and benefit from spending less time in the machine.

-- MAGNETOM Avanto, Siemens’ 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, and the first product to incorporate Tim(TM) (Total imaging matrix) technology. Tim is the first whole body surface coil concept to seamlessly combine up to 76 coil elements and 32 RF channels. The Avanto offers seamless metastasis evaluation, whole CNS imaging, and visualization of vascular diseases.

-- AXIOM Artis dTA, the first digital ceiling-mounted universal angiography C-arm system equipped with flat panel detector (FD) technology, which enables comprehensive routine diagnosis with advanced 3-D image quality, radiation protection, and full network connectivity.

“Our new hospital will truly be a showplace where state-of-the-art medicine and technology are brought together with workflow and process enhancements,” said Eric P. Norwood, CEO, DeKalb Medical Center. “These enhancements will enable us to provide the best possible outcomes for DeKalb Medical Center’s patients, physicians and staff.”

The LEONARDO workstation for comparison and post-processing of data and results from different imaging modalities, in combination with syngo(R), Siemens’ standard user interface, which all imaging technologies are equipped with, will enable the new DeKalb Medical Center at Hillandale hospital to see enhanced productivity and workflow capabilities. syngo allows for significant operational and workflow advantages including faster training of staff, cross-training of physicians and staff, advanced product upgradeability, optimal productivity, multi-modality post-processing, and an image review platform.

“DeKalb Medical Center and Siemens Medical Solutions have a long-standing relationship that includes both imaging modalities as well as hospital IT systems,” said Les Friend, Southeastern Zone vice president, Siemens Medical Solutions. “We are very pleased to extend our relationship with DeKalb Medical Center and supply imaging solutions for its hospital.”

Siemens Medical Solutions is one of the largest suppliers to the healthcare industry in the world. The company is known for bringing together innovative medical technologies, healthcare information systems, management consulting, and support services, to help customers achieve tangible, sustainable, clinical and financial outcomes. From imaging systems for diagnosis, to therapy equipment for treatment, to patient monitors to hearing instruments and beyond, Siemens innovations contribute to the health and well-being of people across the globe, while improving operational efficiencies and optimizing workflow in hospitals, clinics, home health agencies, and doctors’ offices. Employing approximately 31,000 people worldwide and operating in more than 120 countries, Siemens Medical Solutions reported sales of 7.07 billion EUR, orders of 8.12 billion EUR and group profit of 1.05 billion EUR for fiscal 2004 (preliminary figures). Further information can be found at http://www.usa.siemens.com/medical-pressroom.

Serving the community since 1961, DeKalb Medical Center is a not-for-profit hospital system that includes the 525-bed DeKalb Medical Center, the 102-bed DeKalb Medical Center at Decatur and DeKalb Medical Center at Hillandale, a new 100-bed hospital scheduled to open in summer 2005. A leader in progressive medical technology delivered by a highly qualified and caring staff, the hospital system serves approximately 500,000 patients and provides the community with more than $40 million in free care.

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LuJean Smith

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Siemens Medical Solutions

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