Siemens Healthcare

Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics recently became the first integrated healthcare company to combine laboratory diagnostics, therapy solutions and medical information technology with consultation and services. The company has already established itself as one of the larger global healthcare technology suppliers, not to mention a market leader in supplying products and services to the specialised fields of diagnostics, therapeutic technologies and knowledge processing. Add to that the recent acquisitions in laboratory diagnostics, and the magnitude of what Siemens Healthcare is able to offer becomes apparent.

Their broad spectrum of immunoassay, chemistry, haematology, molecular, urinalysis and blood gas testing systems, in conjunction with automation, informatics and consulting solutions serves the needs of laboratories of any size.

Integrated healthcare has an important role to play in the medical industry as it synchronises workflows and improves collaboration across departments, hospitals and even entire health systems. Because critical information flows smoothly between care teams, it gets to the right person, at the right place, at the right time to allow providers to make better decisions faster.

Siemens Healthcare provides diagnostic solutions for the management of diseases such as HIV and breast cancer, from diagnosis and prognosis through to therapy and monitoring. Healthcare providers are therefore able to acquire all the products and solutions for the entire range of patient care from a single source. This system ensures that healthcare is faster, better and more cost effective. The company boasts the experience of implementing its systems worldwide, as its 49 000 employees in 130 countries can attest.

In South Africa, Siemens has been active for almost 150 years since the installation of the first telegraph line from Cape Town to Simon’s Town. Today, it offers a balanced portfolio of technologies that includes automation, power, medical, communication, transportation, security, industrial solutions and business services.

The company has managed to continue its sustainability in the market through inspired leadership, as personified by Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics CEO Helen Brown. Her range of qualifications include a national diploma and a national higher diploma in medical technology, a diploma in purchase management, a manager development programme and a masters degree in business leadership.

Brown exercises active participation in the industry through her membership of the Institute of Directors of South Africa, her registration with the Healthcare
Professionals Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and her seat on the executive board of the South African Laboratory Diagnostics Association (SALDA).

Her career in the industry spans two decades and her vast experience includes laboratory and clinical work, procurement, sales, information systems, marketing and general management as country manager for a major medical diagnostics company.

Following the acquisition and consolidation of Dade Behring and Bayer Healthcare Diagnostics, the new Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics was born. With a passion for empowering people and a special interest in technology development, Brown has commandeered the business through the expected complications of a merger.

She is now tasked with the continued growth of the business, while containing costs. The company has set its sights on becoming the global leader in in-vitro diagnostics. Given its track record in other medical diagnostic fields, there is no reason why Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics will not once again show the way for others in this area.

One example of Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics’ numerous breakthroughs is its recently launched Versant kPCR Molecular System, a new development in the field of molecular testing laboratory equipment that offers real solutions to monitoring the viral load of patients, especially those affected by HIV/Aids. These patients rely on absolute precision to monitor the effects of therapy.

David Tshiporo, national sales manager at Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics South Africa, explains that treatment guidelines for HIV/Aids state that a threefold change in a patient’s viral load status is significant enough for a physician to make a decision about the patient’s treatment. Treatment is therefore critically dependent on the ability to recognise a test outcome as a change in the patient’s viral load, as opposed to inherent variability within a given assay.

“The bDNA is the only FDA-approved assay that can accurately detect threefold variability around the assay cut off (75 copies/mL), giving physicians the confidence that the results they see are a change in the patient status and not dependant on inherent assay variability,” says Tshiporo.

Compared to the older bDNA, the new Versant kPCR allows a higher throughput of samples with a very short hands-on time, which avoids contaminations or variability due to the operator. Compared to some of the other leading techniques in the market, it detected more positive samples, including samples under the limit of quantification (35 copies/mL). This breakthrough makes detections that were previously impossible.

Tshiporo says that in addition to HIV testing, protocols have also been written and are due for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and CT/GC, a future-orientated development that makes that Versant kPCR the most versatile unit of its kind available today, not to mention the fastest.

“The Versant kPCR delivers accurate, reliable results with maximum productivity,” says Tshiporo. “System flexibility in combination with an expanding menu will support quantitative and qualitative detection across many molecular diagnostic applications, helping any laboratory to accommodate new testing demands as they arise.”

Siemens always keeps the client in mind, and with user-friendly software, the unit requires minimal training to operate.

All these features, which are a mainstay of all Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics systems, allow clinicians to get the best possible information to assist the accurate diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of patients. Its comprehensive portfolio of performance-driven systems, unmatched menu offering and IT solutions, in conjunction with a highly responsive service, is designed to streamline workflow, enhance operational efficiency and support improved patient care.

This article was commissioned by Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics. They can be contacted at 011 635 8300. Alternatively, visit the website at www.siemens.com/diagnostics.

Pull quotes:

Integrated healthcare has an important role to play in the medical industry

The company has managed to continue its dominance of the market through inspired leadership

Brown has commandeered the business through the expected complications of a merger

Siemens always keeps the client in mind with user-friendly software