Pictures of the Future        Fall 2008

A New Vision of Healthcare

As the global population continues to grow and the average age rises, the need to control healthcare spending is becoming urgent. Early detection of disease can offer an answer to this growing challenge that will benefit individuals, hospitals and societies alike.

At Siemens, we are moving toward a vision of providing healthcare professionals with the vital information they need to deliver better and more personalized care across the healthcare continuum. To achieve this next generation in optimized care, we are integrating three key areas of healthcare: clinical laboratory diagnostics, medical imaging, and information technology.

The integration of these disciplines began with the acquisition of several laboratory diagnostic companies—Diagnostics Products Corporation, Bayer Healthcare Diagnostics and Dade Behring, which quickly catapulted Siemens into the leading position in the €20 billion global in vitro diagnostics (IVD) market (see Breast Cancer Testing and Biomarkers).

In vitro diagnostics represents less than two percent of global healthcare spending, yet contributes to more than 70 % of clinical decisions. To address the potential of this rapidly growing area, we are currently investing approximately €300 million per year in research & development in laboratory diagnostics technology alone.

Siemens also holds the market-leading position in the worldwide medical imaging business—an area in which we invest over €700 million annually in research & development (see New Imaging Methods and Mammography). We are number one in magnetic imaging, angiography and molecular imaging.

Why are we so strong in these key areas? Quite simply because our innovative technology is focused on patient screening, early disease detection and efficient workflows—all of which lead to improved patient care and lower healthcare costs. In computed tomography, for instance, our Somatom Definition scanner uniquely allows clinicians to scan hearts at elevated pulse rates, eliminating the need for beta blockers and other time-consuming steps. In magnetic resonance (MR), we are the only company offering a system capable of scanning the entire body in a single step.

The third part of our vision is information technology (see Epidemiology and Electronic Patient Records). Why is this so important? We believe information can optimize medical intervention at every stage of the patient-care continuum. With cancer, for example, a blood test can detect proteins that may be indicative of an early-stage tumor. While such blood tests may point to a tumor’s presence, only a PET or MR scan can confirm the presence, location and size of a tumor. Along the treatment path, information technology helps ensure that workflows are optimized, standards are met or exceeded, and optimized medical treatment is delivered.

Given our vision for the next generation of healthcare, it is easy to understand why Siemens has become the world’s first integrated healthcare company.

The articles in the section of this issue that focus on the early detection of diseases (see Early Detection of Diseases, plus feature Electronic Patient Records) literally paint a picture of the  future – and of the technologies in the Siemens Healthcare development pipeline that are propelling us there.

One of the most interesting developments in the research area is optical imaging (see New Imaging Methods) – a technology that could  accelerate the early detection of many diseases by using light to identify abnormal cells in vivo. This technology represents the marriage of diagnostics and therapeutics through advanced IT at the point  of care.

In combination with our rapidly-growing understanding of biomarkers and our steadily improving diagnostic capabilities, such new technologies should lead to revolutionary changes that will advance healthcare, reduce medical costs and save lives.