Flevo Hospital in Almere announces that it has commissioned two new Philips CT scanners with Ambient Experience. The new scanners not only deliver accurate images with a lower dose of radiation, but also give patients a more pleasant experience during a scan.
They are a 64-slice CT 64 and a 256-slice CT 256 CT scanner. The two scanners replace one existing one, thus providing Flevo Hospital with additional capacity. The CT 64 was commissioned at the hospital in late 2017, followed by the CT 256 at the beginning of this year. Since then, the room in which the scanners have been placed has been remodelled and given a new layout.
The new CT scanners allow the hospital to scan patients significantly faster. For example, the CT 256 - the most advanced of the two CT scanners implemented - allows the entire body of a patient to be scanned in just 15 seconds. As a result, Flevo Hospital can not only find out much faster what injuries a patient has, for example, but can also help more patients faster. In addition, as less contrast medium and beta-blockers need to be used, examinations are less stressful for patients.
CT Cardiac
In addition, the scanners enable new types of examinations that previously could not be performed at Flevo Hospital. One example is a CT Cardiac examination, in which the heart is examined with a CT scanner to detect constrictions in the coronary arteries. The examination is partly an alternative to cardiac catherisation, in which a thin tube is inserted through the blood vessels.
A CT Cardiac examination offers several advantages for patients. For instance, the examination is less risky, can be performed faster and is less stressful for the patient. Previously, patients were referred to the Amsterdam UMC for such examinations. Thanks to the new CT scanners, Flevo Hospital can now perform them in-house. The first CT Cardiac examination at Flevo Hospital was performed on 29 October.
Ambient Experience
Another striking feature of the CT scanners is the Philips Ambient Experience. This experience is meant to make patient more at ease during a scan. In fact, many patients become restless the moment they lie in a CT scanner. The experience consists of a combination of soothing light, images and music. A screen in the room allows patients to choose which experience they want to experience during their scan. With the experience, Flevo Hospital wants to create a 'healing environment'. Such an environment is designed to have a positive impact on patients' well-being. For healthcare professionals, the Ambient Experience provides a more pleasant working environment.
Philips offers a range of different Ambient Experience designs available for MR, CT, radiography, interventional, radiotherapy and proton therapy rooms. The designs are customised based on hospitals' requirements, which include clinical requirements, budget and the variables of the department where the experience is offered. The designs are projected on a wall in the room and are visible to the patient from, for example, a CT scanner via a mirror. Music can be listened to via headphones.
A leap forward in all respects'
Anita Arts, chairman of the board of Flevo Hospital: "The 256 slice CT scanner in particular is a very advanced device. With it, Flevo Hospital has the latest technology and we are leading the way in the region. That's good news for our patients and GPs and that's what matters. The access time is now very short. Patients can come to us almost immediately for an examination. The examination takes place in a room with soothing light that is pleasant for both patients and staff. A leap forward in all respects."
The purchase of the new CT scanners is part of Flevo Hospital's larger investment programme, which involves investing in new equipment, the Electronic Patient Record (EPD) and the operating theatre complex. As part of this programme, the hospital is also investing in a second MRI scanner: a 3 Tesla MRI scanner also supplied by Philips. Flevo Hospital has already had a 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner for some time. The new MRI scanners and the renovated operating rooms are expected to be delivered in mid-2019.
In the video below, Gunes Sar, EVR Radiology business manager at Flevo Hospital, explains the new CT scanners and the Philips Ambient Experience.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Source: Flevo Hospital
Source: Philips (photo)
