Industry news: Thinking beyond the system

Patients are often under significant stress during interventional procedures and a more comfortable, personalized environment can allow for relaxation and cooperation with clinical staff for improved clinical outcomes. Philips Ambient Experience Cath Lab demonstrates how Philips healthcare, lifestyle and technology concepts converge to deliver the optimal patient experience.

In a hospital Cath Lab, doctors insert a thin, flexible tube or catheter in a heart patient's blood vessel to allow access to the heart or blood vessels without major surgery. With the help of X-ray imaging, doctors can then examine and diagnose the patients' blood vessels and /or heart. The Ambient Experience Cath Lab suite has been designed around the catheterization procedure to support medical staff and soothe patients during preparation, examination and post procedure. The innovative design of the suite promotes physical and emotional comfort for the patient and maximizes the interaction between the patient and staff by removing clutter and unnecessary physical barriers often present in a standard suite.

Heart patients undergoing a catheterization procedure can be more relaxed by personally choosing a visual theme viewed on LCD panels of the ceiling; colored lighting that illuminates the walls and sounds representative of the theme. These innovative features create a comforting and calming atmosphere, which can reduce patient anxiety and also deliver a sense of control over their experience.

Medical staff can also benefit from the features of the Ambient Experience Cath Lab with special diffuse lighting that eliminates any shadows or reflections on monitors. This equal lighting distribution makes the room relaxing and soothing to a physician's eyes. Physicians also have the ability to check a patient's status before beginning the procedure using a mirrored television placed in the preparation room, which helps to save time and allow the physician to immediately focus on the most important person in the room – the patient. The suite is also equipped with Philips voice control system, further enabling the physician to focus on the patient instead of the system controls.

About Royal Philips Electronics

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a global leader in healthcare, lifestyle and technology, delivering products, services and solutions through the brand promise of “sense and simplicity”. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 121,700 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 27 billion in 2006, the company is a market leader in medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring systems, energy efficient lighting solutions, personal care and home appliances, as well as consumer electronics. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.