Medical center and Philips in demo deal
Westchester Medical Center has embarked what it believes will be a long and fruitful relationship with Philips Medical Systems.
The Valhalla medical center recently launched a program where it will be a “showcase” center for cutting-edge technology from Philips. Philips is a manufacturer of systems for imaging, radiation oncology and patient monitoring as well as providing information management and resuscitation products.
The medical center will have access to be the first or one of the first organizations to purchase new Philips technology, and in turn will be a venue for doctors, hospital administrators and physicians from across the country to come and see the technology in action.
Dr. James LaSorsa, an executive vice president at the medical center, said the price the facility is getting on purchasing the technology is “very favorable,” which makes the partnership even more beneficial.
Though he would not discuss specifics on pricing, he said purchasing the equipment through Philips would save “several millions of dollars” compared with another route.
LaSorsa said the beginnings of the partnership occurred about a year ago when the medical center was looking at replacing some old diagnostic equipment.
He said the center sent out requests for pricing to several different suppliers. Philips came back with the best quotes.
In talking to Philips representatives about purchasing the equipment, the two sides eventually came to “a strategic agreement” where the medical center would receive favorable pricing on equipment in return for demonstrating new equipment, he said
“It”™s absolutely outstanding the price we”™re getting. So far it”™s been very favorable.”
LaSorsa described the agreement as a win-win for both organizations.
“People from around the country will come here to look at us and the equipment,” he said.
He said the agreement will allow the medical center regularly to upgrade and expand its imaging capabilities with the most advanced technology available.
The center recently installed a Philips 3 Tesla (3T) 16-channel MRI, which the medical center described as one of the most advanced imaging tools available in the world today, allowing doctors to view and define structures, such as blood vessels, as small as 200-300 microns across.
Being a demonstration center for Philips will allow the medical center to continue to its high-tech imaging technology, said Westchester Medical Center CEO Michael Israel in a statement.
“At the medical center, these technologies will enable our physicians to more effectively detect and treat life-threatening illnesses and injuries, particularly in the areas of trauma, heart disease, pediatrics, cancer and stroke,” he said. “Making the most accurate diagnosis and discovering a problem or disease in an early stage will make a difference in the lives of thousands of patients.”
Philips Medical Systems is a division of Philips Electronics, based in Holland.