York, Pa.-based WellSpan Health and Royal Philips announced a seven-year strategic alliance on June 4 that brings advanced imaging and diagnostics technology to patients across central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland and establishes a joint research and innovation collaboration.
The deal pairs a research agreement, a joint innovation strategy and a long-term commercial agreement that names Philips as WellSpan’s preferred vendor across all imaging modalities, including CT, MR, digital X-ray, ultrasound and image-guided therapy. The commercial terms cover all 12 WellSpan hospitals, plus its diagnostic imaging centers and ambulatory surgery centers.
The research pact is a first of its kind between Philips and a U.S. community health system. The work will examine how AI and digital tools improve throughput, cost and workflow efficiency, supporting WellSpan’s goal of reclaiming more than 500,000 hours of workforce time annually. WellSpan will also co-develop new products with Philips Research, serving as both a proving ground and a co-creator.
“As WellSpan has grown in clinical capability, so has our responsibility to be more intentional about how we plan, deploy and support the life-saving technology our teams and patients rely on,” said Roxanna Gapstur, PhD, RN, WellSpan president and CEO. “This collaboration gives us that foundation, bringing consistency and coordination across our entire system, advancing digital and AI-enabled care and building a leading research and co-development platform that will transform the future of health care. Community health systems like WellSpan are where most Americans receive care, and we are proving they belong at the center of healthcare innovation.”
Roy Jakobs, CEO of Royal Philips, said the alliance builds on a long-standing relationship between the two organizations. WellSpan operates more than 250 locations and a clinically integrated network of 3,000 aligned physicians and advanced practice providers.
“By combining our health technology leadership with WellSpan’s clinical expertise and research focus, we’re creating a long-term alliance designed to drive measurable improvements in patient care quality, operational performance and innovation,” said Mr. Jakobs. “Together, we’re establishing a scalable, AI-driven platform-based approach that supports clinicians today while shaping how care is delivered in the future.”
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