NYC Health + Hospitals announced that it is investing $224 million over 10 years to upgrade medical imaging technology system-wide. Across the NYC Health + Hospitals system, there are 470 imaging machines, and they are used to screen, diagnose and treat numerous disease states. Within the first four years, 230 medical imaging machines will be updated, including MRI, CT, nuclear cameras, X-ray machines, catheterization labs, PET/PETCT machines and fluoroscopy units. The new equipment, supplied under contract with GE Healthcare, will support the public health system’s goal of standardizing care and providing patients modernized, state-of-the-art technology that will produce faster and better image quality, and lead to quicker diagnoses and treatment for patients.
“At NYC Health + Hospitals, we are making investments that will improve patient experience and provide the highest quality of care, diagnosis and treatment for all New Yorkers,” said Mitchell Katz, MD, president and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals. “We’re standardizing our technology to offer patients the same quality of care regardless of what facility they visit.”
“GE Healthcare is honored to work alongside NYC Health + Hospitals in its mission to improve patient care and clinical outcomes for the people of New York,” said Everett Cunningham, president and CEO of GE Healthcare, U.S. and Canada. “Providing premium care to a growing patient population continues to be challenging in today’s health care environment. This relationship will provide both clinicians and patients access to the latest imaging technology while helping NYC Health + Hospitals meet its goals of reducing costs, increasing hospital efficiency, enhancing clinical quality and improving patient experience.”
The investment and partnership with GE Healthcare will standardize and modernize the imaging equipment for the city’s public health system. This partnership will also modernize and streamline the capital imaging equipment planning and replacement process.
“This new investment demonstrates NYC Health + Hospitals’ commitment to state-of-the-art medical technology,” said Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard N. Gottfried. “I congratulate NYC Health + Hospitals and GE Healthcare for this important partnership to ensure that New Yorkers can access the most modern imaging services in their diagnosis and care.”
Of the total investment, $20 million has already been allocated for NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island, which is undergoing renovations as part of its Hurricane Sandy recovery project. The hospital will receive 47 new imaging machines, including ultrasounds, MRI and a variety of X-ray units.
NYC Health + Hospitals has 89,000 pieces of medical equipment, ranging from low-complexity equipment to sophisticated imaging and operating room equipment. NYC Health + Hospitals performs 1.5 million imaging procedures each year.
