GE Medical Systems and iSixSigma Partner To Advance Healthcare Quality Through Focused Six Sigma Portal

Business Wire, Feb 27, 2003

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

MILWAUKEE & RIDGEFIELD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 27, 2003

GE Medical Systems Healthcare Services, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) that is based in Wisconsin, and iSixSigma LLC today announced a strategic alliance to launch an internet portal focused specifically on the healthcare application of Six Sigma--a rigorous, data-driven method for process and quality improvement. The primary purpose for this co-branded portal (http://healthcare.iSixSigma.com) is to facilitate improvements in healthcare quality and efficiency by providing free and easy access to educational and reference materials, case studies, best practices and other information designed for healthcare professionals.

"Today's healthcare organization faces tough challenges," said Paul Mirabella, President and CEO for GE Medical Systems Healthcare Services, "including concerns over medical errors, malpractice, workforce shortages, inefficient operations, and rising costs. Along with new technologies, meeting these challenges and improving service quality will require a new knowledge base and access to relevant resources. By aligning our respective content and technical expertise, GE Medical Systems and iSixSigma will assist healthcare professionals in finding and using these resources to create sustainable change."

The General Electric Company was an early and ardent supporter of this methodology, achieving impressive cost savings and productivity improvement across its global businesses. In 1997, GE Medical Systems Healthcare Services began working with customers to translate this methodology into the language of healthcare delivery. GE's Six Sigma experts have successfully introduced the approach to more than 1500 healthcare facilities worldwide.

"The iSixSigma/GE Medical Systems healthcare portal will bring together two industry leaders and leverage their respective core competencies to help transform the way healthcare is delivered and administered around the world," said Michael Cyger, Managing Director of iSixSigma. "By working together and continually expanding the resources available on the portal, we're equipping the community to solve healthcare's greatest problems. We hope that our combined efforts will foster and generate waves of innovation throughout the healthcare industry."

The iSixSigma/GE Medical Systems healthcare portal features an interactive discussion forum, original and insightful articles, newsletters, free tools, professional development and other useful resources. Original article submissions are welcomed from Six Sigma and industry experts, consultants and others interested in sharing information and improving healthcare quality.

iSixSigma and GE Medical Systems share a common vision to promote the use of the healthcare portal as a global learning and communications platform for improving processes across the healthcare industry, with the goal to create a more efficient, cost effective and higher quality system for delivering patient care.

About GE Medical Systems Healthcare Services

GE Medical Systems Healthcare Services offers a broad portfolio of business and clinical solutions for healthcare providers. These products include asset, performance improvement, education and financial services designed to help healthcare providers improve quality, enhance performance, increase productivity and reduce costs. GE Medical Systems Healthcare Services is a business of GE Medical Systems, a $9 billion global leader in medical imaging and technology. Additional information about GE Medical Systems can be found at www.gemedical.com

About iSixSigma

iSixSigma.com is the industry leading B2B information portal and marketplace at the cutting-edge of the quality and management professions, and is frequented by more than 70% of the Fortune 100 companies in America. Heralded as 'head and shoulders above all other Six Sigma-related sites', iSixSigma services over 350,000 worldwide visitors each month and has won numerous awards and distinctions. Visit iSixSigma on the web at http://www.iSixSigma.com and the healthcare portal at http://healthcare.iSixSigma.com.