The NYU-Siemens Strategic Partnership

By Michael Harbeson

After a year of thorough research, fierce competition, and intensive negotiation, NYU and Siemens have entered into a partnership of significant commitment and investment, with much intended mutual benefit. For NYU, this represents the opportunity to bring all of our imaging services into the 21st century in a complete digital environment, while Siemens now has the benefit of becoming the sole source of imaging equipment for one of the greatest university medical centers in the country. In addition to collaborative research efforts, Siemens will receive a marketing edge from the ãshowcaseä sites developed here in the Medical Center.

The current situation actually began when Dr. Chase stepped down as chairman in 2000, when school and hospital leadership determined the state of the imaging facilities was going to be an essential component in recruitment. Fortuitously, the search for a new chairman and new vision for NYU Radiology coincided with the ascendancy of a new dean of the medical school, Robert Glickman, whose vision also incorporated advanced imaging into the vision of tomorrowâs medicine. As a result, a both the School of Medicine and the Mount Sinai NYU Health System committed to sponsor and finance the rebuilding of the imaging facilities at NYU in an effort to attract the best candidates for the Radiology chairmanship.

The result was the selection of Dr. Robert I. Grossman, pre-eminent clinician and scientist, whose view of the future of imaging at NYU dove-tailed with the vision of the dean and of hospital leadership. In an unprecedented maneuver, Dr. Grossman then invited two of the premier equipment manufacturers, to compete for an opportunity to partner with us as we redesign and expand our facilities. In so doing, he was able to leverage the potential investment committed by the Medical Center into something much more extensive and hopefully long lived÷the partnership agreement is designed to replace and /or upgrade all of our existing technology, introduce new technologies, and maintain this technology at ãstate of the artä levels for a period of seven years.

Both vendors were asked to submit proposals that would include not only the specific imaging technologies that we required but a PACs initiative, research efforts, continuing education, equipment service contracts, and consulting services. Each vendor had one opportunity to submit their best proposal for review. Both of these were subjected to a rigorous review by several teams comprised of physicians, technical staff, finance, and administration which focused on specific aspects of the proposal and, on completion, assigned a numeric rating for the respective proposals. At the end of the process the superior proposal was determined to belong to Siemens. After an equally painstaking process of nailing down the details, which is now completed, the actual ãroll-outä of new equipment is now imminent.

Equipment will be phased in gradually to avoid disrupting work flow. However, at its completion, the following will be in place:

Faculty Practice Radiology:
Upgrade/replacement of all MR units with "state of the art" 1.5 and 3 tesla magnets. Replacement of existing CT units with new "state of the art" multi-detector units. An additional multi-detector CT unit. Replacement of analog Xray units with Direct Radiography (DR) units. Introduction of several Computed Radiography (CR) units. Replacement of existing fluoroscopic units with "state of the art" digital fluoroscopy units. Replacement of existing Ultrasound units with Acuson Sequoia and Siemens Antares units. Future replacement of analog mammography units with digital units. Introduction of Bone Densitometry unit. Additional laser cameras. Introduction of film digitizers.

Tisch Radiology:
Replace existing Hospital magnet and introduce additional "state of the art" 3 tesla magnet. Replacement of existing CT units with new "state of the art" multi-detector units. Replacement of analog Xray units with Direct Radiography (DR) units. Replacement of existing fluoroscopic units with "state of the art" digital fluoroscopy units. Add another table-side digital fluoroscopy unit. Introduction of two integral C-Arm, tilting table units (w/angio capability). Replacement of two existing Neuro-angio suites. Replacement of two existing Vascular/Interventional suites. Replacement of 6 Gamma cameras (with advanced capabilities). Replacement of existing Ultrasound units with Acuson Sequoia and Siemens Antares units. Replace and add to a total complement of 5 portable C-Arms (with advanced configurations such as 3D). Replace 4 portable Xray units. Additional laser cameras. Introduction of film digitizers.

Tisch Emergency Radiology facility (under construction):
Introduction of one "state of the art" multi-detector CT unit. Introduction of one Direct Radiography suite. Introduction of one Computed Radiography system. Introduction of one Acuson Sequoia Ultrasound unit. One laser camera.

For the Hospital for Joint Diseases:
Replacement of existing MR unit with "state of the art" 1.5 tesla unit. Replacement of existing CT with "state of the art" multi-detector CT unit.

For the 660 1st Avenue Research facility (to be built):
To include several "state of the art" MR units, including one 7 tesla magnet.

New Technologies:
To include several "state of the art" PET/CT units. Additional imaging units to be located at the proposed NYU Cancer Center (to be built).

For All facilities:
Introduction of a "state of the art" Picture Archival and Communication system (PACs). A comprehensive service program covering all imaging equipment. Access to Siemens consulting services (aimed at operational improvements).

Obviously, the scope of this project is quite enormous and will virtually affect every procedure room in our facilities. Many of the installations will require significant "prep" work in the associated procedure areas and some of this will involve significant construction/renovation efforts. The installations will begin in year one and continue through year four. As there is an agreement to maintain "state of the art" status for the seven year partnership period, technology contracted for today but not installed for several years will still provide us with "state of the art" capabilities tomorrow. Preliminary meetings are underway with builders, architects, and engineers chosen by the Medical for the introduction of these units. A schedule of anticipated delivery will be disseminated as soon as it has been firmly established. The initial four projects, expected to be underway by year end or shortly thereafter are, as follows:

• Redesign of the HCC-basement MR facilities to accommodate the expansion of the Hospital MR complement, the upgrade/replacement of Practice magnets, the inclusion of a 3 tesla magnet, preparation for the PACs initiative, and segregation of the inpatient effort from the outpatient effort.
  
• Redesign of the HCC-2 west facility to accommodate the replacement of two CT units, the introduction of DR suites, the conversion of "wet" processors to Computed Radiography, replacement of existing fluoroscopy rooms, replacement of Ultrasound equipment, and preparation for the PACs initiative.
  
• Redesign of Tisch Radiology/Nuclear Medicine facilities to accommodate replacement of the Neuro and Vascular/Interventional suites as well as expanding the capacity of the Interventional effort with new integral C-Arm suites, the introduction of DR suites, the replacement of older fluoroscopy rooms, the replacement of the failing Computed Radiography systems, replacement of two CT units, replacement of the Ultrasound units, replacement of the entire complement of NucMed cameras, and preparation for the PACs initiative.
  
• Design and build out of a Radiology facility adjacent to the existing NYU Emergency department. (Already underway.Anticipated completion 1/03)