HHS signs large-scale DI deal with Siemens Healthineers

HAMILTON, ONT. – Hamilton Health Sciences has inked a $270 million deal with Siemens Healthineers that will see the hospital replace nearly all of its diagnostic imaging gear – about 500 pieces of equipment – over the next five years. The agreement will last 15 years, and includes training and maintenance, as well as procurement services.

“The truth is, for years we haven’t invested adequately in diagnostic imaging, and that our equipment is outdated,” said hospital president and CEO Rob MacIsaac at the announcement of the agreement, held at the medical centre’s David Braley Research Institute.

“We know that breaking this cycle of underinvestment is critical,” said MacIsaac.

He asserted that with the new agreement, “we’re taking some bold steps … and investing in modern tools and technology so we can do our best work for patients.”

MacIsaac noted that HHS has devised a plan to transform care in several different ways, and that having leading-edge technology is a key part of the strategy.

In addition to the new machinery and software, “staff will receive training and 24/7 access to support,” said MacIsaac.

For its part, Siemens will have full-time staff at the hospital helping to solve any problems equipment-related problems that come up, and to refine the hospital’s processes so that staff workflows and patient throughput are smoother.

“It’s not just equipment, but we’re also helping Hamilton Health Sciences run things more effectively,” said David Pacitti, president and head of Siemens Healthineers in North America.

“This is going to do so much for our hospitals,” said Dr. Karen Finlay, acting chief of diagnostic imaging at Hamilton Health Sciences. “We use DI for almost every patient who enters our doors, from neonates to palliative care.”

Hamilton Health Sciences, with five hospitals and a cancer clinic, is one of the biggest medical centres in Canada and provides a full-range of medical services. Its patients are drawn from a catchment area of 2.5 million persons.

The new equipment covers everything from X-ray and mammography machines to CT and MRI, to echocardiography and interventional radiology systems.

“There will also be lots of things that we don’t have right now and can’t even imagine, as we move into new areas of imaging,” said Dr. Finlay.

She noted that Siemens doesn’t produce everything, and while a set percentage of equipment will come from Siemens, a large proportion will come from other vendors. Still, Siemens Healthineers will manage the procurement process, bringing in the equipment desired by clinicians.

Meetings are already under way, she said, to determine a schedule for bringing replacement systems into the hospitals. One of the highest priorities is a new MRI system at the McMaster University Hospital. “It’s the oldest in our fleet,”

Overall, there’s going to be all of activity, happening quickly. “In the first year, we’re going to replace 100 pieces of equipment,” said Dr. Finlay. About half of the existing systems will be replaced in a matter of three years.

“Much of our equipment is past its best-before date,” she quipped.