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May 14, 2012

GATES STROKE CENTER STUDY FINDS TOSHIBA’S AQUILION ONE CT IMPROVES ACUTE STROKE DIAGNOSES

Phase Two of Study Shows Even Greater Improvements in Patient Outcomes, Length of Stay Reductions, Cost Savings

TUSTIN, Calif., May 14, 2012 – Kaleida Health’s Gates Stroke Center (GSC) at the Gates Vascular Institute in Buffalo, N.Y., a world-class neurological and stroke care center, recently completed the second phase of its study analyzing the patient and fiscal benefits of using Toshiba America Medical System, Inc.’s Aquilion^TM ONE CT system in diagnosing acute stroke. GSC achieved $1.31 million in annualized cost savings, a reduction in patient length of stay and improved discharge dispositions as a result of its multidisciplinary approach, enhanced education and training, and advanced Aquilion ONE CT imaging technology. These results are particularly important, as containing costs while delivering high-quality, effective care is a directive of healthcare reform. GSC was formerly the Kaleida Stroke Center at Millard Fillmore Gates Circle Hospital.

GSC set out to quantify the benefits of the Aquilion ONE in stroke diagnosis through a non-controlled study, evaluating imaging procedures, inpatient length of stay and discharge disposition. The study compared inpatient data sets from July to September 2007, prior to the Aquilion ONE installation, with data sets from July to September 2009 (phase one) and July to September 2010 (phase two), which utilized the Aquilion ONE and addressed the top three discharging ICD-9-CM codes.

“Being able to perform whole brain perfusion and digital angiography with the Aquilion ONE has enabled more efficient and accurate stroke diagnoses, while resulting in tremendous patient and cost savings benefits,” said Elad Levy, MD, FACS, FAHA, professor of Neurosurgery and Radiology, University at Buffalo Neurosurgery, and director of Endovascular Stroke Service, GSC. “The study also shows year-over-year improvements as we continue to find additional ways to maximize the technology.”

Highlights of the findings include (full data set on file):

Length of Stay Data

ICD-9-CM Code	2007 Inpatient Cases – Average Days Length of Stay (w/o Aquilion ONE)	2009 Inpatient Cases – Average Days Length of Stay (w/ Aquilion ONE)	2010 Inpatient Cases – Average Days Length of Stay (w/ Aquilion ONE)
434.91 – Unspecified Cerebral Artery Occlusion with Cerebral Infarction	6.03	5.58	5.24
435.9 – Unspecified Transient Cerebral Ischemia	2.69	2.55	2.51
434.11 – Cerebral Embolism with Cerebral Infarction	7.3	7.16	6.93

 

Chart Caption: GSC’s use of the Aquilion ONE in diagnosing acute stroke resulted in a significant reduction in patient length of stay that continues to improve.

Change in Discharge Disposition

ICD-9-CM Code	Change in Discharge Disposition from 2007 to 2010 Highlights
434.91 – Unspecified Cerebral Artery Occlusion with Cerebral Infarction	14.8% improvement in patients discharging to home 88.3% improvement in patients discharging to home health 48% reduction in patients discharging to skilled nursing facilities
435.9 – Unspecified Transient Cerebral Ischemia	23.3% increase to home healthcare
434.11 – Cerebral Embolism with Cerebral Infarction	20% improvement in patients discharging to home 33% improvement in patients discharging to home health 45% reduction in patients discharging to rehab

Chart Caption: Diagnosing stroke with the Aquilion ONE improved the discharge disposition for patients at GSC. For example, patients falling under ICD-9-CM 434.11, the most resource intensive code, saw a 48 percent reduction in patients discharged to rehab in the 2010 data.

Healthcare Cost Savings

ICD-9-CM Code	2009 Quarterly Savings	2010 Quarterly Savings
434.91 – Unspecified Cerebral Artery Occlusion with Cerebral Infarction	$118,367	$197,962
435.9 – Unspecified Transient Cerebral Ischemia	$42,742	$43,856
434.11 – Cerebral Embolism with Cerebral Infarction	$29,400	$86,672
Quarterly Savings Total	$190,509	$328,490
Annualized Savings Total	$762,036	$1,313,960

Chart Caption: In total, over the past two years GSC has achieved more than $2 million in annualized savings by using the Aquilion ONE to diagnose stroke.

“Our partnership with GSC is a perfect example of Toshiba working directly with customers to improve patient outcomes and reduce overall healthcare costs,” Tim Nicholson, senior manager, Market Development, CT Business Unit, Toshiba. “In today’s healthcare landscape, the results of this two-year study are more important than ever and are achievable for other institutions with a multidisciplinary collaboration and advanced imaging technology like the Aquilion ONE.”

About Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.

With headquarters in Tustin, Calif., Toshiba America Medical Systems (TAMS) markets, sells, distributes and services diagnostic imaging systems, and coordinates clinical diagnostic imaging research for all modalities in the United States. For more information, visit the TAMS website at www.medical.toshiba.com.

About Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation

Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation is a leading worldwide provider of medical diagnostic imaging systems and comprehensive medical solutions, such as CT, X-ray and vascular, ultrasound, nuclear medicine and MRI systems, as well as information systems for medical institutions. Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation has been providing medical products for over 80 years. Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Toshiba.

About Toshiba

Toshiba is a diversified manufacturer and marketer of advanced electronic and electrical products, spanning digital products, such as LCD TVs, notebook PCs and hard disc drives; electronic devices and components, such as semiconductors; social infrastructure systems, including power generation systems; and home appliances. Toshiba was founded in 1875, and today operates a global network of more than 490 companies, with 203,000 employees worldwide and annual sales surpassing 6.3 trillion yen (US$77 billion).