Philips announces 500th order for  Ambient Experience hospital installation

21 November 2012

Philips has announced that the 500th order of its Ambient Experience hospital solution was made by the San Joaquin Community Hospital, California, USA. The hospital has ordered a Big Bore CT treatment planning room with Ambient Experience for its new Cancer Center.

In addition, two of the Center’s radiation therapy treatment rooms, will also feature this concept to create calming atmospheres that help patients cope with the stresses involved in being diagnosed and treated for cancer — a disease suffered by more than one-in-three people in the Western World at some point in their lifetime. The San Joaquin Community Hospital Cancer Center is expected to open in January 2013.

“When I first learned about Philips’ Ambient Experience concept, I immediately realized that it could be something that would really set our Cancer Center apart from other clinical facilities in the area,” says Sam Itani, San Joaquin Community Hospital Administrator and CEO. “The focus on combining careful attention to the patient experience with attention to the needs of our staff makes this a win-win for everyone. I am looking forward to delivering a whole new standard of care for our patients.”

Ambient Experience solutions feature the innovative use of dynamic light, video and sound to place patients in a calming, reassuring and relaxing environment. By giving patients personalized control over the theme selection that defines the colour and intensity of the ambient lighting as well as the audio-video content in the room, the patients’ involvement and engagement in procedures is encouraged.

Philips Ambient Experience in a scanner room

Through specialized design strategies, examination and treatment rooms are de-cluttered so that patients feel less overwhelmed by technologically complex medical equipment and procedures. The benefits not only extend to patients. Philips Ambient Experience environments have been shown to decrease the duration of procedures, while also helping caregivers to work more efficiently and with more satisfaction.

“Achieving a milestone figure of 500 Ambient Experience orders within six years of the concept’s commercial launch is a remarkable achievement, especially when you consider that each one is a customized solution,” says Greg Sebasky, CEO Customer Services at Philips Healthcare.

“We have seen an increased demand for our Ambient Experience solutions in the past year, which is clear proof of a growing global awareness of the importance of the patient experience. The increased customer demand reflects the reality that patient-friendly comforting environments are not only beneficial for patients, but also for hospitals.”