OREANDA-NEWS. June 22, 2012. GE Healthcare today unveiled the GE Blueprint for low dose, a comprehensive program that helps healthcare providers integrate CT technologies, education and process improvements, and data analysis to reduce patient radiation dose from Computed Tomography (CT) by up to 50 percent.[1] GE Healthcare is committing to work with health systems and physicians to develop system-specific solutions – comprehensive “blueprints” that can help providers achieve low-dose, high-definition diagnostic capabilities. The program is designed to help health systems nationwide positively impact patient safety.

GE Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Immelt and North Shore-LIJ Health System President and CEO Michael Dowling unveiled the GE Blueprint for low dose today at North Shore-LIJ’s Center for Advanced Medicine. Following the model set by North Shore-LIJ, GE plans to engage with leading health systems across the U.S. – representing 3,500 hospitals with 70% of all hospital admissions nationally – to share the GE Blueprint for low dose.

Traditionally in CT high-image quality often required greater patient exposure to diagnostic radiation. Lower dose levels for the patient usually meant lower image clarity. Partnering with leading healthcare providers, GE is changing the equation. With GE’s Veo technology, for instance, physicians have achieved profoundly clear chest CT images with less than 1 millisievert (mSv) of dose – some with radiation dose levels comparable to chest X-rays. For perspective, traditional chest CT scans can expose patients to anywhere from 5-10 mSv of radiation dose, and natural background radiation exposes the average American to around 3 mSv per year.†

Immelt said, “GE has provided low dose solutions for more than 30 years, and the GE Blueprint for low dose furthers our healthymagination vision of improving the cost, quality and access of healthcare. We are pleased to recognize North Shore-LIJ’s vision and efforts already on this front.”

North Shore-LIJ President and CEO Michael Dowling said, “Maintaining the lowest possible radiation dose in imaging while delivering high quality diagnostics is a top priority. We are thrilled to collaborate with GE Healthcare through this important, impactful program and to build upon our leadership in dose management and North Shore-LIJ’s commitment to ensuring the utmost in safety and care for our patients.”