Bumrungrad International Hospital and Siemens Ltd., Healthcare Sector, today an-nounced an important advance in computed tomography (CT) scanning for Thailand. The “2nd Generation Dual Source CT” installed at the hospital will help doctors evaluate potential heart problems faster and more accurately, with a lower radiation dose.

The new scanner at Bumrungrad is Siemens’ latest CT technology. The Dual-Source CT uses two X-ray tubes rotating around the body simultaneously to provide high resolu-tion images. The highest CT scan speed to date completes thoracic scans in just 0.6 seconds. As a result, patients no longer have to hold their breath, as was necessary in the past. At the same time, Somatom Definition Flash technology works with a much lower radiation dose. For example, a routine cardiac scan on a patient of up to 90 kilo-grams can be performed with less than one millisievert (mSv) – a fraction of the typical CT dose, generally between 8 and 20 mSv.

 

For cardiovascular patients in potentially critical situations, the new CT will allow Bumrungrad specialists to rule out coronary artery disease in less than a minute. They will be able to evaluate coronary blood vessels, valves, functional parameters, andcalcium scores immediately, arriving at a full cardiac assessment in less than four minutes.

Mr. Mack Banner, Bumrungrad’s CEO, said this new CT is another example of new medi-cal technology the hospital invests in to help doctors precisely diagnose disease. He ex-plained, “Patients with heart disease need accurate diagnoses, and they often need them fast. This new Siemens CT provides higher quality images, in minutes. It will help our heart specialists get crucial information so they can treat patients correctly and quickly. ”

Mr. Anthony Chay, President & CEO of Siemens Ltd. Thailand, emphasized that “Both Bumrungrad International Hospital and Siemens share similar goals of providing the Thai community with world-class Healthcare, and we are delighted and honored to be Bumrungrad International Hospital’s chosen reliable partner in delivering quality prod-ucts to the society.”

Bumrungrad International Hospital is the largest private hospital campus in Southeast Asia and the largest private outpatient clinic in the region. In 2002, Bumrungrad became Asia’s first hospital to be reviewed and accredited by the Joint Commission, part of the same organization that accredits US hospitals. It serves more than 1 million patients annually from 200 different countries. The hospital offers over 80 clinical specialties and subspecialties with a full range of tertiary healthcare services, which average over 400 inpatients and 3,000 outpatients daily.

 

Siemens is a global powerhouse in electronics and electrical engineering, operating in the energy, healthcare, industry and infrastructure & cities sectors. The company has around 370,000 employees worldwide (in continuing operations) working to develop and manufacture products, design and install complex systems and projects, and tailor a wide range of solutions for individual requirements. For over 165 years, Siemens has stood for technological excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality.