Philips Collaborates on Connected Healthcare Tech for Acute Care
Amsterdam, Thursday, 17 July 2025.
Philips teams up with top medical tech firms to enhance acute care by creating a human-centered, connected health system, streamlining patient data sharing and alarm management.
Introduction to Philips’ Strategic Partnership
In a move that promises to redefine how acute care is delivered, Philips has joined forces with top medical technology companies such as Dräger, Hamilton Medical, Getinge, and B. Braun Melsungen AG. This collaboration focuses on integrating advanced technologies to create a smart, connected healthcare infrastructure. At the core of this initiative is the implementation of the Service-Oriented Device Connectivity (SDC) standard. This standard allows different medical devices to communicate seamlessly, enhancing interoperability and optimizing workflow for healthcare professionals [1].
Enhancing Patient Care through Advanced Technologies
An integral part of this collaboration involves improving alarm management in acute care settings. Alarm fatigue is a well-documented issue, with nurses often overwhelmed by the sheer volume of alerts—over 350 per patient daily, most of which are false or non-actionable. The new system focuses on reducing this overload by bundling notifications and delivering them via mobile devices, allowing healthcare staff to respond more efficiently regardless of their location [1]. Philips’ recent update to the IntelliVue patient monitor includes the Philips Sounds alarm package, which has been shown to decrease alarm sounds in intensive care units by up to 66% [1].
Efficiency and Workflow Optimization
The overarching goal of the Philips initiative is to enhance the efficiency of healthcare professionals by refining alarm management processes and facilitating better interoperability among devices. Through the use of real-time data sharing and connectivity, the joint efforts are designed to streamline the workflow, freeing healthcare providers to focus more effectively on patient care. This also hopes to reduce noise in patient rooms and improve overall hospital environment, ultimately leading to better patient care and satisfaction [1].
Future Prospects and Challenges
Essential to the success of Philips’ plan is the broader transformation towards digital and hybrid healthcare solutions. As seen in other regions, integrating digital health solutions offers substantial improvements in accessibility and quality of care, but also presents challenges such as addressing interoperability issues and ensuring data security [2][3]. The collaboration is anticipated to serve as a benchmark for digital healthcare, contributing valuable insights into the development and scaling of digital health solutions [3].