Greeneville, Tenn. ―Laughlin Memorial Hospital and Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) has installated Tennessee's first Ambient Experience suite featuring a 64-slice computed tomography (CT) system, as well as the installation of the state's first "4.0T combination"--two magnetic resonance (MR) suites, comprised of a high field 3.0T whole body and a high-field 1.0T open system. Laughlin Memorial and Philips are focused on providing Eastern Tennessee world-class diagnostic technology married with unique patient-focused designs to improve patient comfort.

The jewel of Laughlin Memorial's Outpatient Imaging Center, the Ambient Experience suite allows patients to instantaneously personalize the lighting, projected images and other elements of the exam room, giving them a greater sense of comfort and control over their experience. By swiping a credit-card sized "theme card" before entering the room, patients select soothing images to be projected on the walls and ceiling accompanied by corresponding sounds, such as an underwater seascape or mountain scene complete with migrating geese. Wrapping the patient in an experience of their choosing changes the setting from a cold clinical room into an environment that puts him or her at ease.

"The difference between getting a CT exam in a traditional suite compared to the Ambient Experience suite is night and day," said Burt Ridge, 49, a local patient who has had recent CT exams in both the Laughlin Memorial Ambient Experience suite and traditional CT suites. "Every time I need a CT exam, I have some anxiety about the procedure. I'm concerned about the state of my health, I'm in the room alone and the system itself is loud and startling. The Ambient Experience suite allows me to relax, the images help me think about something other than the exam, the time passes faster and my fears during the process are significantly reduced. At this point, I am taking steps to ensure my next exam will take place in the Ambient Experience suite - it makes a difference."


Philips Ambient Experience technology is leading a change the in way patients receive care by creating hospital environments that are reassuring for patients and comfortable for professionals. Installed at select leading hospitals around the world, Philips Ambient Experience concept uses advanced medical, audiovisual, lighting and IT technologies applied to various clinical settings, such as waiting rooms, radiology suites and catheterization labs. Philips aims to improve the quality of people's lives in the hospital or home with innovative and advanced healthcare solutions that continually enhance care performance and patients' experiences.

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