Royal Philips Electronics has entered into a long-term technology solutions partnership with Doha-based Sidra Medical and Research Center, the first academic medical center in the region.

Philips will provide comprehensive clinical informatics software solutions for the new medical and research institution, which focuses on the health and wellbeing of women and children, with terms and conditions agreed for the next ten years.

Philips will provide their latest fully-integrated IntelliSpace Picture Archival and Communication System (PACS), to address Sidra’s Clinical Imaging Workflow across the Clinical Imaging Continuum.

The Philips solution will inter-operate seamlessly using industry communications standards, adhering to the globally accepted standard framework.

The patients’ information will be stored in multiple data centres and will be available at point of care within three seconds. These servers will feature enormous expansion capacity, be fail and disaster-proof with full redundancy.

This fits into Sidra’s goal of operating as a fully wireless, filmless and virtually paperless facility – a concept called "paper-lite". Sidra will be an all-digital facility, incorporating the most advanced IT applications in all clinical, research and business functions.

This includes the use of advanced technologies such as robotics, computer-aided surgery, diagnostics, and digital imaging with advanced 3D, supported by the solution provided by Philips.

“Sidra is one of the most exciting new developments in healthcare, not just in the Gulf region, but the world,” said Diederik Zeven, general manager of Philips Healthcare Middle East & Turkey.

“We regard this project very highly, and we’re very pleased to not only be providing our groundbreaking healthcare imaging products, but also to be partnering with Sidra with the goal of advancing the field even further and discovering new opportunities that await us in the future.”

“Philips is an important partner for us in developing a customized solution unique to our current and future technology and business needs,” said Daniel J Bergin, Sidra’s executive project director.

“For such a groundbreaking project in the Gulf region, it was essential that we work with a leading, internationally recognized healthcare solutions company that could provide not only the latest technology, but also the best long-term support.”

Bergin highlighted a critical component of the Philips solution, which is the provision of a state of the art Vendor Neutral Archive where all patient images will be stored, enabling clinicians to seamlessly retrieve and review the medical imaging component of the patient’s Electronic Health Record.

“This partnership enables us to provide the advanced, patient-centered care that Sidra promises. Developing a strategic collaborative partnership with Philips was an obvious choice for us and we look forward to witnessing the benefits it will bring to our patients,” said Bergin.

Opening its doors to patients at the end of 2012, Sidra Medical and Research Center will initially have 400 beds, with infrastructure to enable expansion to 550 beds in a subsequent phase. – TradeArabia News Service