GE Healthcare Installs First Discovery PET/CT 600 in the United States at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

PET/CT scanner at Cancer Treatment Centers of America transforms way patients are treated and monitored.> TULSA, OK June 12, 2009>– GE Healthcare, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), announced the first installation of the new DiscoveryTM PET/CT 600 scanner, at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The revolutionary scanner is designed to help enable earlier detection and accurate monitoring of disease combined with the latest advancements in molecular imaging. “The new scans show details of my body not seen in past scans making it easier for my oncologist and me to discuss treatment options,” said Kathy Kelly, a 53-year-old esophageal cancer patient from Tupelo, Miss. “With a clearer picture, I am able to understand exactly what’s going on in my body.” “The Discovery PET/CT 600 is a revolutionary tool for my practice as it allows me to better monitor malignant lesions which are sub-centimeter in size,” says Simeon Jaggernauth, DO and Kathy Kelly’s Medical Oncologist. “My patients love the fact that they can better visualize their entire disease volume and receive treatment earlier for disease that might otherwise get ignored utilizing a traditional PET scanner. This is a tool that benefits the entire industry and practice of medical oncology.” With the new Discovery PET/CT 600, CTCA patients will benefit from advanced motion management technology that will enable CTCA doctors to precisely identify where lesions are located, rapidly create a therapy plan, and monitor treatment response by interpreting images taken in a single exam, which generally takes less than half an hour. This assessment can help doctors quickly address patients’ concerns and shorten overall hospital length of stay. “We are thrilled to be the first hospital in North America to have this new scanner in place,” says CTCA radiologist Timothy McCay, DO. “The Discovery PET/CT 600 has the ability to resolve small lesions, giving us the confidence to identify metastatic disease earlier instead of having the patient wait several months for a follow-up appointment.” The Discovery PET/CT 600 scanner features a new platform of technology that gives doctors and their patients the information they need to make better treatment decisions and potentially improve patient outcomes. The revolutionary platform includes: “The installation of the Discovery PET/CT 600 aligns well with the CTCA Promise to offer clear information, with powerful and thorough treatment options based on individual patient needs,” said Jim Mitchell, general manager of GE Healthcare’s PET/CT business. “This scanner was designed to optimize cancer diagnosis, planning, treatment and monitoring-a truly ideal match for this leading cancer hospital.” About Cancer Treatment Centers of America®> Founded in 1988, Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) provides a comprehensive, patient-centered treatment model that fully integrates traditional, state-of-the-art medical treatments with scientifically supported complementary therapies such as nutrition, naturopathic medicine, psychological counseling, physical therapy and spiritual support to meet the special, whole-person needs of advanced stage cancer patients. With a network of cancer treatment hospitals and community oncology programs in Arizona, Illinois, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Washington, CTCA encourages patients and their families to participate in treatment decisions with its Patient Empowerment MedicineSM model. For more information about Cancer Treatment Centers of America, go to cancercenter.com. About GE Healthcare> GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services that are shaping a new age of patient care. Our broad expertise in medical imaging and information technologies, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring systems, drug discovery, biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies, performance improvement and performance solutions services help our customers to deliver better care to more people around the world at a lower cost. In addition, we partner with healthcare leaders, striving to leverage the global policy change necessary to implement a successful shift to sustainable healthcare systems. Our "healthymagination" vision for the future invites the world to join us on our journey as we continuously develop innovations focused on reducing costs, increasing access and improving quality and efficiency around the world. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, GE Healthcare is a $17 billion unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE). Worldwide, GE Healthcare employs more than 46,000 people committed to serving healthcare professionals and their patients in more than 100 countries. For more information about GE Healthcare, visit our website at www.gehealthcare.com.

Mon May 23 2011