By Healthcare Facilities Today

GE Healthcare, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), unveiled four software breakthroughs to deliver improved clinical capabilities, productivity and diagnostic confidence for clinicians. 

Up-to-date, reliable and accurate software is critical to quality care for the patient and usability for the clinician. GE Healthcare recently announced a $2 billion investment in software development that is focused on maximizing asset performance, improving hospital operations management, improving clinical effectiveness and optimizing care across entire populations. And now, GE Healthcare's Xeleris 3.1, DV24.0, VolumeRAD, Enterprise Imaging Solutions and iCenter further demonstrated this commitment.

In nuclear medicine, one of the greatest challenges clinicians face is access to the advanced and unique applications required to harness the power of nuclear medicine examinations. The latest release of GE Healthcare's Xeleris software enables automation, personalization and access to these advanced applications.

Nuclear medicine clinicians will gain access to specific image results where and when they are needed. With its open interface architecture, Xeleris applications can now be launched through an integrated unified desktop from the Universal Viewer, as well as using the generic Application Programming Interface with other PACS vendors, providing radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians with tools previously only available on the Xeleris workstation, for enhanced access and productivity.

"The personalized workflow and unique new clinical applications will give clinicians the information they demand with speed, convenience and flexibility," said Nathan Hermony, general manager for GE Healthcare's nuclear medicine business.

GE Healthcare MRI's mission is to deliver the best clinical solutions with great patient experience at the right cost and quality. This year, GE Healthcare MRI is pleased to announce DV24.0, a unique software platform featuring innovative applications like Silent Scan.

Additionally, DV24.0, with FOCUS, takes Diffusion Imaging to the next level with the ability to optimize for image quality and signal to noise. FOCUS provides high-resolution, organ-specific Diffusion-Weighted Imaging (DWI) and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) for a small field of view. MAVRIC SL, a new technique designed for imaging the joints of patients with MR conditional implants, is also featured in DV24.0 and is setting new standards in musculoskeletal radiology.

GE Healthcare's VolumeRAD offers improved detection and management of patients with lung nodules compared to conventional radiography for imaging of the chest. As the first thoracic radiographic tomosynthesis product with a specific indication, this advanced application aims to improve the detection of lung nodules and the subsequent management of patients. VolumeRAD is 7.5 times more sensitive than chest X-Ray in detecting lung nodules 4mm -- 6mm in diameter, and patients benefit from low dose by receiving only 1.6 times more radiation than a 2 view (PA and LAT) chest x-ray exam.

 GE Healthcare is introducing its expanded suite of Enterprise Imaging Solutions to help lower IT costs, improve clinician productivity, expand networks of care and enhance diagnostic confidence. The launch features Centricity 360 solution that connects unaffiliated clinicians and patients through a professional online collaboration tool and gives them secure on demand access to imaging applications. Centricity 360 is the newest addition to GE's PREDICTIVITY solutions, which harnesses the power of the Industrial Internet to help industrial organizations achieve zero unplanned downtime and peak productivity. GE Healthcare's Enterprise Imaging Solutions also include Centricity PACS with Universal Viewer and Centricity Clinical Archive, recently validated by IHS as the Number One global vendor neutral archive (VNA).

GE Healthcare's iCenter provides instant access to critical information such as asset status, location, maintenance history, and use and planning -- which helps enable data-driven decisions and improved operational results. Now information is easier to digest with a more dynamic, customizable and colorful user interface. Improvements mean fewer clicks, a built-in analytics engine for more visual and intuitive data depiction, user security enhancements, and integrated guided tours. iCenter is the platform for future online service applications from GE Healthcare.