At Arab Health 2007, Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) will unveil the first Ambient Experience Catheterization (Cath) Lab to be showcased in the region. Placing patients at the centre of the healthcare environment, the Ambient Experience suite demonstrates how Philips healthcare, lifestyle and technology concepts converge to deliver the optimal patient experience. Philips also highlighted the positive results recently reported by the Department of Radiology at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, USA, which installed an Ambient Experience suite in 2005.
In a hospital Cath Lab, doctors insert a thin, flexible tube or catheter in a heart patient’s blood vessel to allow access to the heart or blood vessels without major surgery. With the help of X-ray imaging, doctors can then examine and diagnose the patients’ blood vessels and/or heart. The Ambient Experience Cath Lab suite has been designed around the catheterization procedure to support medical staff and soothe patients during preparation, examination and post procedure. The innovative design of the suite promotes physical and emotional comfort for the patient and maximizes the interaction between the patient and staff by removing clutter and unnecessary physical barriers often present in a standard suite.
Heart patients can be distracted from the catheterization procedure by personally choosing a visual theme viewed on the LCD panels of the ceiling; colored lighting illuminates the walls and sounds represent the theme. These innovative features create a comforting and calming atmosphere for the patient, which may reduce patient anxiety and also delivers a sense of control over their experience.
Medical staff can also benefit from the features of the Ambient Experience Cath Lab with special diffuse lighting eliminating any shadows or reflections on monitors. This equal lighting distribution makes the room relaxing and soothing to a physician’s eyes. Physicians also have the ability to check a patient’s status before beginning the procedure using a mirror television placed in the preparation room, which helps to save time and allow the physician to immediately focus on the most important person in the room – the patient, thus increasing the human contact. The suite is also equipped with Philips voice control system, enabling the physician to focus on the patient instead of the system controls.
Demonstrating the benefits of Ambient Experience
Philips is also highlighting the positive results recently reported by the Department of Radiology at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, USA, which installed an Ambient Experience CT suite in 2005. “It’s been over a year since we installed Philips Ambient Experience in our pediatric CT suite,” explains John Anastos, D.O., chairman of the hospital’s Department of Radiology. “In that time, we have achieved a 16 percent reduction in the rate of sedation for children under the age of 18, and a 28 percent reduction for children under the age of four.”
According to Chris Semler, R.N., B.S.N., Advocate Lutheran, throughput has also increased. “If we sedate a patient, it adds at least four hours to the procedure time. Without sedation, most scans can be accomplished within 30 minutes. The time savings allows us to schedule four patients a day versus one patient a day.”
This is especially helpful, as word-of-mouth has brought an influx of new patients to the facility. “Our kids are telling other kids, ‘go to Advocate Lutheran and you’ll see a light show’. Plus, the kids are going back and telling their doctors about the great experience they had,” says Semler. “We couldn’t ask for a better measure of success.”
By incorporating leading-edge consulting and design elements, advanced medical technology and sophisticated lighting and consumer-friendly electronics, the Philips Ambient Experience creates a soothing and pleasing environment for hospital patients of all ages.
The Philips Ambient Experience pavilion will be located in Hall CE18 at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Center
About Royal Philips Electronics
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a global leader in healthcare, lifestyle and technology, delivering products, services and solutions through the brand promise of “sense and simplicity”. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 121,700 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 27 billion in 2006, the company is a market leader in medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring systems, energy efficient lighting solutions, personal care and home appliances, as well as consumer electronics. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.
