Siemens Healthcare Testifies on Healthcare Reform and Building a Healthier America

WASHINGTON, June 24  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Siemens Healthcare (http://www.siemens.com/healthcare) today announced that Thomas Miller, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Workflow & Solutions Division, Siemens Healthcare, testified before the Health Subcommittee, Committee on Energy and Commerce, U.S. House of Representatives on the need for healthcare reform.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070904/SIEMENSLOGO )

During the hearing, "Comprehensive Health Reform Discussion Draft, Day 2," Mr. Miller testified on ways to improve the quality of healthcare delivery while reducing its overall costs. He noted that there is undeniable evidence that medical imaging finds disease earlier, renders some invasive procedures obsolete, and saves lives.  The medical imaging industry has worked hard to generate savings and efficiencies by developing physician-driven appropriateness guidelines that will ensure appropriate and effective use of diagnostic technologies, while assuring every patient has access.

"The evidence that medical imaging finds disease earlier, renders some invasive procedures obsolete, and saves lives, is irrefutable," said Thomas Miller, CEO, Workflow & Solutions Division, Siemens Healthcare. "Through medical imaging, we gain tremendous knowledge about disease.  We can detect it earlier, intervene sooner and, therefore, achieve better outcomes.  That is the solution to our healthcare crisis.  And, diagnostic imaging, with its insight into the human body - is the key."

  Mr. Miller presented to the Committee the facts about medical imaging:
  1. Diagnostic technologies support more cost-effective care by enabling
     earlier, faster and more accurate diagnosis, eliminating the need for
     expensive and invasive surgeries and inappropriate therapies, reducing
     hospital admissions, and, in many cases, avoiding costs of long-term
     chronic conditions.
  2. The growth in medical imaging can be attributed to its transformational
     effect on medicine for almost every facet of every disease.  Physicians
     know that medical imaging is simply the best tool they have to diagnose
     disease with confidence.  And, the great majority of physicians have
     one overriding interest: to achieve the best possible outcomes for
     their patients.

  3. The best means to reduce costs and overuse is by creating a more
     efficient healthcare system through Healthcare Information Technology
     and to manage medical imaging utilization through physician-driven
     appropriateness guidelines.




"Advanced diagnostic imaging technologies don't just improve health - they save lives.  Simply ask any woman whose mammogram detected breast cancer in its earliest stages to make her a survivor.  Ask anyone whose Coronary CT Angiography found blocked arteries before he/she suffered a catastrophic - or fatal - heart attack," noted Miller.

Siemens Healthcare is a global supplier of medical and healthcare information technology.  In the USA, there are over 18,000 employees working in healthcare and over 69,000 across all Siemens companies.

Mr. Miller's written testimony can be accessed at the Siemens Healthcare Press Room:

http://www.usa.siemens.com/HealthCareReformTomMiller

The Siemens Healthcare Sector is one of the world's largest suppliers to the healthcare industry. The company is a renowned medical solutions provider with core competence and innovative strength in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies as well as in knowledge engineering, including information technology and system integration. With its laboratory diagnostics acquisitions, Siemens Healthcare is the first integrated healthcare company, bringing together imaging and lab diagnostics, therapy, and healthcare information technology solutions, supplemented by consulting and support services. Siemens Healthcare delivers solutions across the entire continuum of care - from prevention and early detection, to diagnosis, therapy and care. Additionally, Siemens Healthcare is the global market leader in innovative hearing instruments. The company employs around 49,000 people worldwide and operates in 130 countries. In the fiscal year 2008 (Sept. 30), Siemens Healthcare reported sales of Euro 11.2 billion, orders of Euro 11.8 billion, and Sector profit of Euro 1.2 billion. Further information can be found by visiting http://www.siemens.com/healthcare. 

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070904/SIEMENSLOGODATASOURCE: Siemens Healthcare



CONTACT:  Lance Longwell, Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.,

[phone], 



Web Site:  http://www.siemens.com/healthcare 

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