Outpatient imaging provider Akumin partnering with Philips to tackle radiology pain points

Publicly traded imaging provider Akumin is partnering with Philips to deploy the latter’s new workflow technology across outpatient centers in the U.S. and address inefficiencies in radiology care, the pair announced Wednesday.

As part of the collaboration, Akumin will implement Philips’ new radiology operations command center across its freestanding imaging center enterprise, which now includes 134 locations. The tool connects technologists and rads in real-time on everything from diagnoses to image acquisition.

The pair will also develop clinical standards for Akumin’s MR and CT machines, according to the announcement. It is the first “large-scale” commercial customer for Philips’ command center in North America.

“Deploying Philips radiology operations command center across Akumin’s center-of-excellence imaging network is the perfect opportunity to further drive radiology workflow efficiency to improve patient outcomes, enhance patient and staff experiences, and reduce the cost of care,” Kees Wesdorp, chief business leader, Precision Diagnosis at Philips, said in a statement.

Akumin has announced a slew of business deals lately, including its purchase of a 34.5% stake in an unnamed AI firm for a reported $4.6 million. Earlier last month, the imaging center operator acquired six freestanding imaging centers in Florida for $39 million.