Under the expanded collaboration, GE Healthcare and Alliance Medical will leverage advanced data analytics and AI to improve outcomes, access and healthcare delivery for patients
GE Healthcare and Alliance Medical expand collaboration. (Credit: General Electric)
GE Healthcare has expanded its existing collaboration with UK-based radiology services company Alliance Medical to create a digital solution that enhances the productivity of the radiology departments in the UK hospitals.
The initial partnership includes a £45m deal to supply more than 70 medical imaging systems across oncology, cardiology and neurological care pathways over three years.
Under the expanded collaboration, the companies will leverage advanced data analytics and AI to simplify daily management and solve the problems of staff and patients.
The partnership aims to improve patient outcomes by standardising protocols, minimising radiation dosage required for imaging, and delivering better care.
It will deploy advanced data and AI solutions to identify precisely if people are not showing up for their appointments.
The collaboration will initially focus on the UK, with plans to expand the model into other countries and geographies.
Alliance Medical managing director Richard Evans said: “Radiology departments are facing significant challenges, with severe staff shortages being exacerbated by lengthening patient backlogs. The result is demand exceeding the capacity to deliver.
“There is no solution to this problem without innovation, which is exactly what this partnership with GE Healthcare is all about.”
According to the company, radiology departments constantly face challenges with managing large volumes of patients, schedule disruptions and inconsistent processes.
To address the problems in radiology departments, Alliance Medical will use advanced data analytics, remote collaboration tools, and AI solutions from GE Healthcare.
The company will use ‘Imaging Growth Tile’, an AI app in GE’s Command Centre Software Platform to predict equipment utilisation and optimise the scheduling, using real-time data.
Imaging Growth Tile, together with other solutions, is expected to optimise operational productivity, improve care, facilitate virtual collaboration and deliver cost-effectiveness.
Apart from the current collaboration, the two companies are also developing a model for rapid diagnostic centres to speed up cancer diagnosis.
Alliance Medical is supporting GE’s Edison Accelerator programme, an initiative aimed at enriching start-ups by connecting them with healthcare providers.
GE Healthcare Northern Europe general manager Simon McGuire said: “Our software delivers a brand-new level of 360 visibility, allowing radiology departments to manage complexity and optimise productivity in a way that couldn’t be done before.
“Most important of all, we hope it will unburden clinicians and empower them to focus on what matters most: providing the best patient care possible.”