Home
Our response to COVID-19

Our response to COVID-19
Supporting our partners throughout the healthcare system to provide the best possible patient care

The ongoing coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic is confronting healthcare professionals worldwide with unprecedented clinical and operational challenges. As they struggle to deal with this extraordinary situation, at the same time they must also continue to care for other patients.

At Siemens Healthineers, we are aware of the urgency and complexity of the current situation, and we are working hard to provide the best possible support to healthcare providers at each stage of COVID-19 patient care: diagnosis, prognosis, therapy and follow-up.

We offer a broad portfolio of technological solutions to support you along patient pathway. And in our “New Normal” Insights Series papers, we explore offer ideas, analysis and practical advice on how to combat the pandemic, emerge stronger from the crisis and be better prepared for future challenges

A typical day during COVID-19: Experts in radiology

For healthcare providers COVID-19 brought unprecedented challenges: protecting patients and staff, caring for COVID-19 patients, looking after patients with other diseases and illnesses, all the while dealing with profound uncertainty, great stress, and high risk.

Read more:
How COVID-19 accelerated the transformation of healthcare

Solutions

We support you to provide the best possible care for patients

The following overview highlights elements of the Siemens Healthineers portfolio that support healthcare providers at each stage of COVID-19 patient care: diagnosis, prognosis, therapy and follow-up.

Clinical

Our medical imaging, laboratory diagnostics and point-of-care testing solutions can support physicians to make a prognosis about the severity of a COVID-19 case, help treat the patient, and assist with follow-up to monitor the patient’s recovery.

Operational

Our digital health solutions, services and consulting can support healthcare providers in protecting healthcare workers and increasing healthcare delivery capacity. For example, our digital services enable medical personnel to operate systems regardless of their location, thereyby potentially lowering the risk of infection.

Know our solutions

Rapid antigen testing for the detection of SARS-CoV-2

As society continues to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a critical public health need to get ahead of the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus with a fast and simple test for all. The CLINITEST Rapid COVID-19 Antigen Test¹⁵ is a point-of-care cassette test that does not require central laboratory analyzers and hence eliminates transport delays and associated costs. It delivers results in 15 minutes.

Real-time PCR helps identify RNA from SARS-CoV-2

The new FTD SARS-CoV-2 real time PCR Assay¹ from Siemens Healthineers is now available for molecular laboratories. A dual-target design for SARS-CoV-2 identification provides assay robustness and optimal sensitivity, specificity, and inclusivity. The FTD SARS-CoV-2 Assay uses the same assay setup protocol and thermal-cycling profile as all FTD respiratory pathogens kits from Siemens Healthineers.

Comprehensive lab testing

Fast, accurate detection and monitoring for health issues that may arise as part of COVID-19 disease management are critical. Our comprehensive portfolio of systems and extensive menu in immunoassay, chemistry, hematology, hemostasis, molecular, and urinalysis, in conjunction with automation, informatics, and services, can help support the essential role of laboratory diagnostics. We are expanding infectious-disease testing capabilities to address the COVID-19 pandemic, developing a SARS-CoV-2 laboratory serology assay⁴ to detect presence of IgM and IgG antibodies in blood, helping indicate whether a person has developed immunity. An antibody test can reveal if a person had COVID-19 even if they were asymptomatic or never diagnosed with the disease.

Computed Tomography (CT) images used in evaluation of infectious disease

High resolution chest CT images help assess the severity of the lung involvement in COVID-19 patients, especially those with severe symptoms. This includes evaluation of the progression and remission of the disease.⁶ Scanners of the SOMATOM go. platform provide high resolution lung imaging and are recommended for fast delivery requests in areas where COVID-19 is prevalent. The innovative mobile CT workflow of SOMATOM go. platform scanners permits technologists to maintain a distance of at least 1.5 m (5 ft) from potentially infected patients. These scanners can also be installed in mobile units to provide access in high-demand or in isolated areas. Furthermore, many of our CT simulators usually being used for radiation treatment planning, can be used to support the diagnosis of COVID-19 based pneumonia.

X-ray systems support initial assessment of severity and monitoring

X-ray imaging is a relevant diagnostic modality for patients with COVID-19 disease, especially if the availability of other diagnostic methods becomes limited due to a rapid increase of infected patients. In many locations isolated areas are set up for the diagnosis and therapy of COVID-19 disease to manage the increased number of patients. There are solutions available to integrate X-ray machines into these isolated environments.

Managing coagulation abnormalities in COVID-19 patients

While it’s not unusual for infections to raise the risk of clotting, COVID-19 is associated with an unprecedented range of clotting-related disorders in COVID-19 patients. Coagulation testing plays an important role in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of coagulation abnormalities in these patients. Siemens Healthineers is supporting labs to best perform coagulation testing. Our efforts include increased production of vital coagulation assays, and compiled knowledge on current coagulation testing and monitoring recommendations.

Magnetic Resonance (MR) images to support physicians in detecting cardiac injury

Recent studies in China and Italy^7,8,9have indicated that myocardial injury is common among patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and is associated with a higher risk of in-hospital mortality. Cardiovascular MRI (CMR) can be useful in supporting physicians detect and monitor cardiac injury (e.g. myocarditis) as a possible complication of COVID-19, according to the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR). To support CMR we offer SCMR Recommended Protocols, clinically optimized exam protocols for 1.5 and 3T MAGNETOM systems, for download. To help perform comprehensive CMR exams, we also offer a free, 90 days trial license for our standardization and automation technology Cardiac Dot Engine.¹⁰

Manage patients in triage locations

In order to help inform clinical decisions during the COVID-19 crisis, labs need systems that are easy to install and run with broad menus to test patients for other related or unrelated medical conditions that may exist. Our compact, integrated chemistry and immunoassay testing system⁵ provides a simple user interface to rapidly mobilize testing with quick turnaround times for certain critical tests. A disposable, sealed cuvette design may help reduce contact with potentially infectious sample mixtures and aerosols.

Male Doc in hospital room talk to patient

Blood gas systems are used in the management of ventilated patients under respiratory distress

The RAPIDPoint® 500e Blood Gas System and epoc® Blood Analysis System are essential analyzers supporting COVID-19 response efforts, where blood gas testing plays a critical role in managing infected patients and monitoring their respiratory distress. The analyzers integrate seamlessly into hospital networks with the Point of Care Ecosystem™, which offers remote management of operators and devices.

Thought leadership

The Siemens Healthineers Insights Series is our preeminent thought leadership platform exploring emerging issues and offering ideas, analysis, and practical advice on how to deliver high-value care.

The “New Normal” edition of the Insights Series focuses on the challenges COVID-19 has created for healthcare providers and presents strategies and ideas on how to emerge stronger, more resilient, and better prepared for future challenges.

How to optimize the diagnostic experience?

Insights series, issue 23

A thought leadership paper on “Improving patient experience” with Jason A. Wolf, Ph.D., CPXP. Find out more.

Read the paper (pdf)

Our perspective on COVID-19

The Siemens Healthineers leadership team regularly shares their thoughts via Linkedin blog posts. Find here the latest posts around the topic of COVID-19.

COVID-19 – Ten hypotheses on what we can learn from the crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic is a tough teacher, reminding us how closely our society, economy and health are intertwined. Which consequences will we draw from this crisis in the long term? Bernd Montag has ten hypotheses on what we can expect.

Did this information help you?

The products/features and/or service offerings (here mentioned) are not commercially available in all countries and/or for all modalities. If the services are not marketed in countries due to regulatory or other reasons, the service offering cannot be guaranteed. Please contact your local Siemens Healthineers organization for further details.

Due to high demand, availability in certain regions may be affected, please contact your local Siemens Healthineers representative for details.

CE-IVD labelled for diagnostic use in the EU. This test has not been FDA cleared or approved. This test has been authorized by FDA under an EUA for use by authorized laboratories. This test has been authorized only for the detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens. This test is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Act, 21. U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the authorization is terminated or revoked sooner.

In development; not available for sale. Future availability cannot be guaranteed.

Product availability may vary from country to country and is subject to varying regulatory requirements.

Fang et al., Sensitivity of Chest CT for COVID-19: Comparison to RT-PCR, Radiology 2020

Shi S, Qin M, Shen B, et al. Association of Cardiac Injury With Mortality in Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19 in Wuhan, China. JAMA Cardiol. Published online March 25, 2020. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2020.0950

Guo T, Fan Y, Chen M, et al. Cardiovascular Implications of Fatal Outcomes of Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). JAMA Cardiol. Published online March 27, 2020. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2020.1017

Inciardi RM, Lupi L, Zaccone G, et al. Cardiac Involvement in a Patient With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). JAMA Cardiol. Published online March 27, 2020. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2020.1096

Not available in all countries

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

AI-Rad Companion Chest X-ray is currently not for sales in the United States and other selected countries.

A secure VPN connection to the department network is required. Other appropriately trained personnel must be in the room to care for patient, position the patient, and manually start the scan.

The DICOM viewer is not intended for diagnostic display. Due to regulations data exchange between data center regions is restricted. The products/features/service offerings are not commercially available in all countries. If the services are not marketed in countries due to regulatory or other reasons, the service offering cannot be guaranteed. Please contact your local Siemens organization for further details.

Under review by the U.S. FDA for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). Product availability may vary from country to country and is subject to varying regulatory requirements.