Listen to Hospital da Luz Podcast on the topic: “In Luz Saúde Imaging, the future is today” Google | iTunes | Spotify In an interview given before the start of COVID-19 pandemics, the responsible for the project of modernization and renewal of Luz Saúde imaging technological park, explains how the modernization and renewal of the imaging equipment of diagnosis and treatment was undertaken, throughout the whole Hospital da Luz Network. Hospital da Luz Lisboa celebrated, in 2019, its 13 years of existence. How can you summarize these years of growth in the area of diagnostic imaging? Diagnostic imaging has always been one of the structural axes of investment in Grupo Luz Saúde and, particularly, in Hospital da Luz Lisboa. We have always envisioned HLL based on solid imaging, transversal to the whole hospital. It is an area vital for a good functioning. From the very beginning, we relied on medical and technical teams exclusive to Luz Saúde and invested in the continuing technical training of those teams, inside and outside the country. Since it opened its doors in 2006, Hospital da Luz Lisboa counts with highly differentiated equipment and has been continually investing in the maintenance of this technological park. Along the years, Hospital da Luz Lisboa has strived to keep pace with the technological leading edge and the need of strategical assistential lines for the Group, namely in areas such as cardiovascular, neuroradiology, orthopaedics, sports medicine, genitourinary medicine, dental medicine and oncology. The needs of these assistential lines determined not only the clinical governance, in teams of great medical and technical differentiation, but also the modernization and investment in new equipment. They have been years of growth and above all of search of improved clinical solutions in terms of diagnostic imaging, to better serve our clients and the doctors that refer their patients to us. These are areas of high demand and we aim to satisfy our clients with the best offer in the market. What is the investment in diagnostic imaging equipment for the expansion of HL Lisboa? We have invested about 15 million euros in diagnostic imaging, for 50 units in total. We are very pleased with this investment, that evidences the vitality and ambition of Hospital da Luz Lisboa in this area. 40% of this investment was destined to the acquisition of new equipment, and 60% to the renewal of the already installed park. Of the 15 million euros invested, 50% is investment in Imaging and Interventional Radiology, whether in renewal, whether in new equipment, 30% is destined to the new hybrid rooms and intraoperative magnetic resonance for the operation theatre. 13% are destined to the renewal of Nuclear Medicine equipment, and 7% goes to the remaining areas that resort to diagnostic imaging, such as Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Paediatrics, Neurology, Vascular Surgery and Dental Medicine. This was a substantial investment, as you can see, that counted with the support and strategy sharing from our shareholders. What was the work developed in the area of diagnostic imaging for the expansion of HL Lisboa? The tender for the renewal and expansion of Hospital da Luz Lisboa was an intensive work, coordinated in an exemplary way by Gonçalo Leal and Ana Filipa Graça, members of the Central Board of Diagnostic Imaging (DCDI), which were essential for the completion of this project. It was their thorough, committed and demanding work that allowed us to complete this task successfully. Our special acknowledgment to them. It started 2 years ago and it is the result of a cooperation between Luz Saúde DCDI and other central boards of the Group, such as the Direction of Systems and Information Technology, Marketing and Communication, Infrastructures, Maintenance and Equipment, among others. And, naturally, teams from Hospital da Luz Lisboa, starting with the Executive Board and Management Centres. I cannot forget to highlight the work developed by the clinical teams in assistential areas and the particular medical, technical and nursing teams that operate the equipment and follow closely the latest trends in the area, especially in Imaging and Nuclear Medicine. And a special acknowledgement to all physicians for how they engaged themselves in the process of selection of the different equipment. What are the main strategic guidelines in the decisions taken and in the equipment chosen? This tender intended, as I referred, to renew the technological park already existing at Hospital da Luz Lisboa, and also to acquire new equipment. In the renewal of the park, we can highlight, for instance, the complete replacement of the Nuclear Medicine equipment (PET-CT and Gamma-Camera), in the area of ultrasound for prenatal diagnosis and Gynaecology, or in the area of Cardiology, but also equipment for other very specific and differentiating contexts in diagnosis and therapeutics, particularly in minimally invasive therapies. A revealing aspect of the dimension and differentiation of this investment: Hospital da Luz Lisboa will have, in the short run, 6 Magnetic Resonances, some of which will be exclusively dedicated to perform a particular type of exams. For instance, one of the new MRI will be destined to osteoarticular exams, and another one exclusively for neuroradiology. Another important objective of this tender was the acquisition, for the operation theatre, of the new hybrid rooms with intraoperative magnetic resonance. This new equipment allows the development of interventional radiology, as a minimally invasive therapeutic alternative. In Neurosurgery, for support to brain tumour surgery, in Cardiology and Vascular Surgery, with robotic arc solutions, that offer the surgeon better conditions for results of higher clinical benefit for the patient. We are also investing substantially in high clinical and technological level Dental Medicine. In the context of this investment, we have acquired a new high-end Cone Beam CT equipment for dental studies and ATM, besides Orthopantomography and Cephalometry exams. What partnerships were established in the context of this expansion project? We further reinforced the relationship we already had with our suppliers, some of them our strategic partners from the very beginning, like Siemens and GE. New suppliers joined this project, with global high-end equipment, such as Hologic, and Canon, among others. We observe in all suppliers tendering a strong commitment to Luz Saúde. Considering the incremental development in technological innovation in all areas of medicine and its highly competitive climate, with new players and start-ups associated with health, I believe that with this tender we managed to create partnerships of international level, with the main world suppliers in the area of diagnostic imaging, always pursuing the best clinical solutions for each speciality and equipment installed. These partnerships will enable Hospital da Luz Lisboa to position itself as a reference centre of worldwide projection, permanently in touch with the most innovating solutions in the field, further opening the doors for the continuing training of physicians and technicians, and allowing the contact with other health institutions and research organisms of international reference. How do you envision the future of HL Lisboa and Luz Saúde in this area? The 15 million euros’ investment in the area of diagnostic imaging reflects the ambition and commitment of Grupo Luz Saúde to offer the best clinical answer to its patients and stand as a health provider of reference in Portugal. But we assume, with natural pride, that HL Lisboa Imaging is today, definitely, one of the largest and better centres of international reference, not only counting with state-of-the-art equipment, but mostly with physicians and technicians of great competency. Because, at the end of the day, people are what makes the difference! The technological differentiation allied to the qualification and differentiation of human resources will remain a distinctive factor of the new Hospital da Luz Lisboa, potentiating its development as a unique, viable and in the long term sustainable project. The future will definitely be ours.
