Advanced digital diagnostics feature at new Westmead facility

Fast-tracked under the NSW Government’s COVID-19 response, the new state-of-the-art Central Acute Services Building — the centrepiece of the $1 billion+ Westmead Health Precinct — has opened, featuring new digital imaging-enabled operating theatres and expanded imaging services, two new emergency departments, 25 digital operating theatres, and more than 300 patient rooms alongside world-class research and education facilities.

Equipped with advanced medical imaging technology from Royal Philips, the facility boasts what is reported to be Australia’s first Elition X dual entry intraoperative MRI machines, designed to provide and enhance speed and efficiency for critical neurology cases such as stroke and acute trauma where speed is crucial to the diagnosis and treatment of patients in critical condition. Additional diagnostic and image-guided therapy solutions include Azurion Bi Plane and Azurion Flexmove as well as the DigitalDiagnost C90, Zenition 70 and wDR MobileDiagnost 2.1.

The digital imaging-enabled operating theatres are predicted to boost speed, efficiency and collaboration between surgeons and radiologists. With the immediate feedback of intraoperative MRI, clinicians can achieve first-time correct diagnoses and real-time adjustments based on up-to-date MRI information at virtually any time during surgical procedures.

Clinicians can perform an array of cardiac and vascular interventions with the newly installed Azurion biplane system, selected by Westmead Hospital’s Interventional Neuro, Vascular and Surgical teams for its speed and accuracy in trauma care. The image-guided therapy platform allows clinicians to easily and confidently perform procedures, helping them optimise their lab performance and workflows and make fast, informed decisions to provide care for patients that need critical treatment.

Commenting on the opening of the health precinct, Managing Director of Philips Australia and New Zealand Matt Moran said, “This project undertaken by the NSW Government demonstrates Philips’ unique ability to support public-sector organisations looking to ramp up their health systems’ capabilities and accelerate their digital health strategies in response to COVID-19 — providing a more robust and effective healthcare ecosystem in record time.

“It is very encouraging to see public health departments adopting technologies and workflows aligned to a more sustainable and robust healthcare future. The Westmead precinct is a leading example of what is possible for the next generation of health delivery,” Moran said.