GE Healthcare, Intermountain partner to help reduce radiation dose in CT procedures by 50%

Intermountain Healthcare today announced a joint effort with GE Healthcare to help further reduce radiation dose in Computed Tomography (CT) procedures at its facilities by up to 50 percent. Intermountain and GE Healthcare will collaborate to further reduce patients' radiation dose through the GE Blueprint for low dose, a comprehensive solution combining technology, people and processes. The GE Blueprint program will include a special focus on reducing radiation during pediatric imaging procedures, and was announced today at Intermountain's Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City.

CT imaging is a critical tool in helping physicians diagnose disease and has positively impacted millions of adults and children. Through collaboration with GE Healthcare and implementation of innovative imaging technologies and system-specific solutions, Intermountain will continue to lead in further reducing radiation dose while maintaining exceptional image quality in diagnostic procedures. The program will include a focus on the unique needs of pediatric patients, leveraging technologies and protocols to help doctors match body size and type to appropriate scans.

"Ensuring high quality images at the lowest possible radiation dose is a priority in every diagnostic imaging procedure at Intermountain, including an emphasis on the specific needs of children in our care," said Dr. Keith White, medical director of Imaging Services for Intermountain Healthcare. "Through our work with GE Healthcare, we continue to invest in the very latest solutions to optimize imaging, delivering the highest standards of care to all patients."

"GE Healthcare has long been committed to working with health care providers, including the nation's leading hospitals, to help them continuously reduce radiation dose in CT imaging," said Steve Gray, vice president and general manager of CT & Advantage Workstation for GE Healthcare. "We look forward to collaborating with clinical leaders at Intermountain Healthcare and building upon GE's announcement last year of more than $800 million of investment in low-dose technologies over 15 years."

Traditionally in CT, high-image quality often required greater patient exposure to diagnostic radiation, and conversely, lower dose levels for the patient usually meant lower image clarity. Over the last four decades, CT technology and processes have evolved. Together with GE Healthcare, Intermountain is helping change the equation by continuing to lower radiation dose while maintaining diagnostic image quality - in adult as well as pediatric imaging.