Skyrocketing fuel and energy costs, global warming, organic food, reducing energy footprint, "the green machine" continues to gain momentum throughout our daily life. But did you know that "going green" is also a trend for hospitals? The green as a trend is catching on as hospitals strive to reduce toxins and waste, lower energy bills and achieve a healthy, healing environment.
In 2008, GE's SignaHDe, 1.5 Tesla MRI received the first "ecomagination" status for a healthcare imaging system. Not just any product can receive this distinguished designation. By employing efficient gradient and electronics design as well as innovative water cooling technology, the SignaHDe became the most energy efficient 1.5T MRI system. GE continued its pursuit and brought out more energy efficient 1.5T MRI systems in the form of Brivo MR 355, MR 360 and Optima MR 360 Advance.
Customers are seeing green: For any outpatient MRI centre, or a diagnostic centre keeping operating expenses in check is very important in today's healthcare environment. Many healthcare providers who install an MRI believe that it is possible to run an efficient and profitable MRI suite with the right technology. Their belief is not in vain and their search ended with GE. So, let's look at why are hospitals and diagnostic centres in the country is looking for GE's energy efficient MRIs - Brivo and Optima scanners.
1. For most hospitals and diagnostic centres, space is a commodity. This particularly true in urban areas where space is at a premium and many services are packed in the limited available space of the centre. Extensions of an existing imaging room to accommodate a large MRI are costly and very difficult. So, if you are able to fit an MRI that does not compromise on the image quality into a standard radiography suit, why will not hospitals/diagnostic centres choose that? The Brivo MR 355, MR 360 and Optima MR 360 Advance uses small footprint - 25 square meters for siting. It is 20% less space than previous generation MRIs.
2. When less is more:Brivo and Optima MRI systems use 34% less energy than previous generation MRI systems. It reduces electricity usage by about 60,000 kWh per year, per unit which is equivalent to annual electricity consumption of 360 households* in India under normal operating conditions. For an MRI suite, it amounts to Rs.3.6 Lakhs of electricity savings per year and that's reducing over heads tremendously. Add to this saving from lowering UPS/generator capacity and operating costs are reduced further.
3. Productivity and Precision improved: Brivo and Optima provides outstanding high definition image quality while keeping energy consumption very low. The new express coils and intuitive controls simplifies the operations, streamlines scanning time and preserves signal-to-noise ratio and achieves coverage and depth of penetration - result high quality diagnostic images that made GE a world leader in MRI systems.
Innovation is the key. Our engineering teams have identified several opportunities to reduce power consumption. By incorporating unique overnight "sleep mode", efficient gradient and electronics design, as well as innovative cooling technology, our team reduced the system's energy consumption during both operating and non-operating hours.
We purchased Brivo MR355 1.5T from GE Healthcare more than 2 and half years back. This Green MR is a great investment. It keeps giving us returns of investment - after tremendous savings in installation, we are now saving on an average Rs.30,000/- every month because of its lower power requirement and hence reduced power bills, at the same time providing High Definition MR imaging" Says Dr.MohitBhargav, Consultant Radiologist, Civil Lines MRI at SantParmanand Hospital, Delhi
India has about 1400 MRI systems installed as on today. 75% of all MRIs purchased here are 1.5 Tesla MRIs and customers have shown a strong interest in going for greener MRIs that can lower their total running costs and higher economical gains. Since mid-2011, 100 hospitals /diagnostic imaging centres have opted greener MRI technologies and all the 100 chose GE for being the best energy efficient 1.5T MRI systems. What is fascinating is that it is not a trend limited to urban areas. Whether it is a metro or tier II - Tier V , customers are unanimous on their preference for lower operating costs and lower total cost of ownership. So these systems are reaching smaller towns or areas like Balasinor in Gujarat; Ghaziabad in Haryana; Salem in Tamil Nadu; Meerut in UP, Solapur and Ankola in Maharashtra etc. in addition to places like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Calcutta etc.
The hospitals/diagnostic imaging centers purchased greener technologies are seeing sustained improvement in their operating costs.
DR. DEEPAK P. PATKAR, HOD & Consultant Radiologist - PET. CT & MRI Centre, Dr. Balabhai Nanavati Hospital, Mumbai Me and colleagues says " Brivo MR355 1.5T fits within the space constraints of any low-field scanner easily. This is a Green MR as it consumes less power. Now, we have a high performing, High definition image quality MR scanner and for which, we did not have to break the walls for expansion or stop our operations for a longer time which is good for our patients as well as our investments"
Many of the hospitals and imaging centres run 24/7 making them one of the largest energy consumers. And electricity costs are always on an upward scale and in many towns electricity is not available for as many as 13-15 hours a day. Hence saving money is not the only imperative, but saving energy for a brighter tomorrow is equally important.
*Average of Rs.1000/- per household considered as a monthly expense.
Author Details:
Dr. Karthik Kuppusamy,
Director, MRI,
GE Healthcare, South Asia Region
Karthikeyan.Kuppusamy@med.ge.com
http://www3.gehealthcare.in/en/
