Apr 30, 2020

How ultrasound can enable better COVID-19 patient management

Manila, Philippines - – Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, has a broad portfolio of ultrasound products and solutions that can help hospitals in examining critical COVID-19 patients. By simplifying the process of diagnostic imaging, ultrasound can improve the overall hospital experience for both patients and healthcare professionals.

Computer tomography (CT) is considered the modality of choice when diagnosing pulmonary damage. Hence, this is the most common method used in healthcare institutions for COVID-19 bedside patient management. Although CT is a reliable diagnostic imaging method, this is not always readily available in emergency room settings.

Studies have shown that lung ultrasound for COVID-19 patient management could provide care providers with a safe and efficient alternative for diagnostic imaging, other than CT¹. Ultrasound is considered to be one of the most important technologies to improve access to care in limited resource settings. Its role in improving emergency medicine is very important as it is a first-line diagnostic tool.

In Philippines, the need for a more accessible imaging modality will help in diagnosis and treatment management. At Philips, we recognized this need and there we have mobilized our handheld/portable ultrasound systems to assigned COVID-19 referral centers to equip our front liners.

Why ultrasound devices?

As ultrasound devices are portable, these devices can be brought to the patient rather than bringing the patient to different rooms in the hospital to get scanned. By lessening patient movement, this also reduces patient exposure to other patients and healthcare professionals.
Ultrasound devices can be easily disinfected. This allows for more patients to be scanned in a shorter time period, thus making healthcare procedures more efficient.
They offer a user-friendly experience for care providers. With this type of diagnostic imaging process, there is no need for site planning as ultrasound devices are often a plug-and-play devices. It requires only basic ultrasound knowledge.
Ultrasound also reduces patients’ exposure to radiation, thereby minimizing other potential health risks.
Depending on the systems, remote capabilities for virtual collaboration is possible.
Being hybrid solutions, they can be used after the outbreak for other clinical necessities.

“Now more than ever, it is important for us to find healthcare solutions that will help our medical frontliners provide the best care for patients affected with COVID-19. We are championing the benefits of ultrasound in the safe management of the outbreak, as these solutions could help us give the best care to patients while protecting our frontliners in the fight against COVID-19,” said Ashwin Chari, country manager, Philips Philippines. “Philips is acutely aware of the risks, stresses, and challenging conditions healthcare providers globally are facing in response to the COVID-19 crisis. At Philips, our top priority is supporting healthcare professionals and patients during this difficult time.”

Ultrasound solutions by Philips

Lumify– an easy and convenient to use, app-based ultrasound device. As Philips’ most accessible and portable solution for point-of-care lung and cardiac assessment, this could greatly aid healthcare professionals in providing care to COVID-19 patients while minimizing the spread of the disease. Its integrated capabilities allow remote collaborate with point-of-care (POC) healthcare professionals in a real-time consultation.

InnoSight – This compact ultrasound system allows healthcare professionals to scan patients in more of the clinical places where care is delivered. The compact and highly portable InnoSight ultrasound system, with its innovative ergonomic design and clinical versatility, allows one to bring ultrasound to patients, whether in the office, clinic, or hospital.

CX50 - Premium technologies bring a new level of image quality to compact ultrasound so performance isn't sacrificed for portability. Getting high quality diagnostic data from portable exams is complicated by many factors. The CX50 allows professionals to have the image quality they need for diagnostic confidence wherever it is needed. CX50 can be taken to patients – in the surgical suite, CCU and ICU, in labor and delivery and at satellite clinics and screening events, in the ED and OR, and in the NICU or PICU. The CX50’s image quality and compact size makes it the ideal choice where space is limited.

Affiniti – It offers high throughput lung and cardiac ultrasound with Precision Beamforming imaging technology. Tissue Specific Presets (TSP) and automation tools deliver both performance and workflow for confident throughput. It scans technically difficult patients with ease with PureWave transducers and has powerful multi-modality fusion capabilities

EPIQ Elite – it features an exceptional level of clinical performance, workflow, and advanced intelligence to meet the challenges of today’s most demanding practices. The EPIQ Elite platform brings ultimate solutions to ultrasound, with clinically tailored tools designed to elevate diagnostic confidence to new levels.

¹https://pubs.rsna.org/doi/10.1148/radiol.2020200847

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2019 sales of EUR 19.5 billion and employs approximately 81,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.