Siemens 2005 Annual Report Download - page 50

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Smart cards for health
The inhabitants of Italy’s Lombardy region are benefit-
ing from an innovative health card solution developed
by a consortium of IT firms, including Siemens Infor-
matica, which is a joint venture of Siemens Business
Services and Telecom Italia. Siemens Informatica and
Siemens Communications are responsible for the
smart card, its operating and security system and its
interface with healthcare applications.
The customer, Lombardia Informatica, expects to save
€100 million a year, in part because the system will
help prevent card misuse. Patients arriving for a doc-
tor’s appointment present their card and identify
themselves with a PIN. Prescriptions are then trans-
mitted to a database, from which they may be
retrieved by a specified pharmacy. Unless warned by
the system of adverse interactions with other patient
medications, the pharmacist fills the prescription,
which can then be picked up at the pharmacy.
Increased efficiency and improved care
at lower cost
The healthcare industry faces many challenges today
as it aims to cut costs, boost efficiency, enhance patient
safety and well-being, and protect patient data while
ensuring its portability. As an industry leader in deliv-
ering healthcare solutions at the leading edge of care,
Siemens is well-positioned to address these chal-
lenges. We help our customers optimize workflow
across departments and streamline processes for
diagnosing and treating illnesses such as coronary
artery disease, strokes and cancer.
A clear overview across the continuum of care
When state-of-the-art imaging systems give physicians
quick, efficient access to patient data, diseases can be
detected earlier and treatments better tailored to pa-
tients’ needs. The SOMATOM® Definition computed to-
mography (CT) system is the world’s first dual-source
CT system. With two X-ray tubes and detectors, it can
produce amazingly sharp images even at high heart
rates – with as much as 50% less radiation exposure
compared to traditional CT scans . The MAGNETOM
Espree™ magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system
offers speed and superior image quality, combined
with a spacious design for greater patient comfort.
With its acquisition of CTI Molecular Imaging, Inc. in
May 2005, Siemens combined its nuclear medicine ac-
tivities with CTI to form a new Molecular Imaging Divi-
sion. This unit focuses on positron emission tomogra-
phy (PET) and single photon emission computed to-
mography (SPECT) technologies; preclinical imaging
for research and pharmaceutical purposes; and appli-
cations and post-processing for molecular imaging.
Siemens is also continuing to develop computer-based
technologies such as syngo LungCare, a software pro-
gram that assists the physician in confirming the pres-
ence of lung lesions.
Bringing it all together is Soarian®, Siemens’ health-
care information technology (IT) solution. Soarian is
the only healthcare IT system that incorporates a work-
flow engine – the same technology used to improve
efficiency and accuracy in manufacturing. This com-
prehensive solution helps healthcare professionals
provide safe, efficient, patient-centric care.
Information is just a drop away
Other trendsetting technologies include Siemens’
quicklab system – a “lab-on-a-chip” that will enable
clinicians to provide accurate diagnoses directly at the
point-of-care in less than half an hour by checking a
single drop of body fluid (such as blood or saliva) for
pathogens like bacteria and viruses. This credit card-
sized system, which is still in the development phase,
will also be able to analyze a patient's DNA and detect
genetic structures that can lead to certain types of dis-
ease. Using this innovative technology, doctors will be
able to identify a patient’s predisposition to certain
health problems and initiate preventive measures that
are tailored to the patient's personal profile. Quicklab
is still subject to research and therefore a work in
progress.
Fit4MoreLetter to our Shareholders Managing Board