Philips announces 1000th installation of its Ambient Experience solution to create a patient-friendly hospital environment

• Philips installs tailored Ambient Experience solution at St. Claraspital hospital in Basel, Switzerland, using dynamic lighting, video and sound to create a relaxing environment during CT imaging procedures 
• 1000th installation coincides with the tenth anniversary of Philips’ Ambient Experience and is the company’s first installation in conjunction with its IQon Spectral CT imaging system

Amsterdam, the Netherlands - Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) today announced a milestone for its Ambient Experience solution with the 1000th installation at the St. Claraspital hospital in Basel, Switzerland. With Ambient Experience, the Swiss hospital created a calming and reassuring patient-controlled ambient environment for patients undergoing computed tomography (CT) imaging procedures. Since its commercial introduction in 2006, Philips has incorporated Ambient Experience solutions in medical imaging rooms, imaging preparation rooms, treatment rooms, and emergency departments.

The 1000th installation of Ambient Experience on its tenth anniversary is also Philips’ first installation of the solution in conjunction with its IQon Spectral CT imaging system. This imaging system is the world's first spectral detector based CT scanner that provides clinicians with multiple views of a patient’s anatomy within a single, low-dose exam.

“It is amazing to see the initial positive impact that the Ambient Experience environment has on our patients undergoing CT imaging procedures in the room,” said Professor Hoffmann, Chair of Radiology at St. Claraspital, Basel. “Rather than being stressed, these patients are visibly much more relaxed during their scans, which makes it better for them and more efficient for our hospital staff. Combined with the unique capabilities of Philips’ IQon Spectral CT imaging compared to conventional CT imaging, I am looking forward to delivering a whole new standard of care for our patients.”

“We can all relate to the fear and stress that patients may have when they visit a hospital for an imaging procedure or treatment,” said Werner Satter, Business Leader Healthcare Experience Solutions at Philips. “As a pioneer, we introduced the Ambient Experience concept in 2002 and we have seen a growing global awareness of the importance of the patient experience ever since. In the past ten years, we have installed 1,000 Ambient Experience solutions in radiology departments, emergency departments and treatment rooms in more than 50 countries. We have seen that a purposefully designed patient-centric environment can make a real difference to patients’ experience and state-of-mind.”

Ambient Experience solutions feature the use of dynamic light, video and sound to place patients in a calming, reassuring and relaxing environment. By giving patients personalized control of the theme that defines the color and intensity of the ambient lighting as well as the video and sound in the room, their involvement and engagement in procedures is enhanced. By adopting specialized ‘patient-centric’ design strategies, examination and treatment rooms are de-cluttered so that patients feel less overwhelmed by technologically complex medical equipment and procedures. Philips’ Ambient Experience not only benefits patients. The company’s Ambient Experience environments have been shown to decrease the duration of procedures, while also helping caregivers to work more efficiently and with more satisfaction [1].

The first Ambient Experience room was installed in 2005 at the Advocate Lutheran General Children's Hospital in Chicago, US. The commercial Ambient Experience program was launched in 2006 in the US, and was gradually expanded to Europe and growth geographies such as China and the Middle East. Philips Ambient Experience designs are already supporting radiology, cardiology, oncology, and emergency departments, and are increasingly being deployed in new areas such as NICUs and ICUs. Ambient Experience solutions can be extended from the procedure room to the control room, waiting areas and whole departments. 

Philips will be showcasing Ambient Experience at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Scientific Meeting and Annual Assembly in Chicago (US) later this month. Philips’ booth #6735 is located in Hall B at McCormick Place. For more information about Philips’ presence at RSNA, please visit Philips’ RSNA event website, and follow @PhilipsLiveFrom.  

[1] A survey conducted in September 2015 by the Children’s Hospital for Wales (UK) among 116 parents/caregivers of pediatric patients (of which 47 were familiar with the former radiology department) showed the following results: 

• 89% indicated that it was easier or a lot easier for their child to relax in the new radiology department.
• 72% indicated that, compared to their experience in the former radiology department, the experience of the imaging procedure was a lot better for their child.
• The Net Promoter Score of the new radiology department was 78 (116 respondents).