Siemens Healthineers inks 10-year, $105M imaging value partnership with large medical center

Siemens Healthineers has inked a 10-year, $105 million imaging value partnership with a large academic medical center, the two announced Monday. 

The deal is with the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center in Columbus and expands their existing strategic relationship. It will cover equipment purchases over the next 10 years along with consulting services as OSWMC seeks to achieve operational improvements and further develop its workforce. 

“Combining the strengths of both our institutions allows us to achieve more for the benefit of our patients, locally and globally,” John J. Warner, MD, CEO of the hospital and executive VP at Ohio State, said in a Nov. 25 announcement. “We have a deep bench of subspecialized scientists working in cancer, heart, neuroscience and other disciplines. Along with Siemens Healthineers, we can solve medical challenges and adapt therapies in real time for the betterment of our patients—and that is a very meaningful opportunity that we’re excited to take on together.” 

Siemens Healthineers scientists will join the research and clinical teams at Wexner Medical Center, the Ohio State Heart and Vascular Center, its heart hospital, and the OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center. They’ll work together to advance clinical practice at a new “center for imaging excellence.” Siemens said they plan to bring together scientists, engineers, clinicians and students from multiple disciplines. Those involved hope to develop “practical innovations” that can be “rapidly translated to practice.” 

Siemens Healthineers and its acquired radiotherapy division, Varian, have already provided products at OSWMC for 15 years. This has spanned MRI, CT, molecular imaging, X-ray, interventional radiology and radiation oncology. Innovations that have arisen from the “longstanding” partnership have included MRI techniques to detect inflammation of the heart muscle, rapid methods for imaging cardiac function and blood flow, and cheaper ways of imaging the heart using lower field of strength. 

“Our relationship with the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center brings out the best in both organizations,” David Pacitti, president and head of the Americas at Siemens Healthineers, said in the same announcement. “Not only are we providing them with advanced imaging and other modalities, but through our research collaboration, we’re also co-developing technologies that can save and improve patients’ lives.”