Philips showcased people-focused approach at Saudi Medicare 2009

On show for the first time in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) was the 'kitten scanner', a scale model of a CT scanner designed to prepare children for the full-sized machine through play.

Also on show for the first time in KSA was Philips CareServant, a versatile bedside device that can display a range of information, including visiting hours, news messages and opening hours of hospital departments.

"The solutions we showcased at this year's Saudi Medicare were all designed from the outset to meet the needs of patients and clinicians," said Dick Bunschoten, General Manager Philips for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. "Our continued success in the region is due to our approach of innovating alongside our customers to provide meaningful solutions to their needs."

The burden on KSA's healthcare continues to rise, with a growing proportion of the population suffering from lifestyle-related diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer. For example, total expenditure on cardiovascular diseases is expected to quadruple over the next 20 years. By providing solutions throughout the care cycle - from diagnosis to treatment, follow-up and monitoring - Philips is helping to develop sustainable solutions that improve patient care.

On show for the first time in KSA, Philips CareServant is designed to make a patient's stay in hospital more pleasant and to potentially assist healthcare clinicians. The CareServant displays a range of information, including visiting hours, news messages and opening hours of hospital departments, among many things. In addition, the device provides applications that can assist clinicians, such as showing of information films relating to a particular treatment or the retrieval of patient information.

Also on show for the first time in KSA was the 'kitten scanner', a child-friendly device that is both educational and fun. The prospect of an enormous scanner can be particularly frightening for a child, so Philips' kitten scanner prepares children for the full sized machine through play.

The child can 'scan' a toy by placing it on the miniature exam table and sliding it into the kitten scanner to learn why their animal is ill from an on-screen animation.

By teaching the child what to expect, the kitten scanner helps to reduce the child's fears about their own exam. A relaxed child is less likely to need sedation or repeat exams, which helps keep radiation doses to a minimum.