Sutter Health, a non-profit healthcare provider in California, and GE HealthCare have entered into a seven-year partnership to advance diagnostic imaging capabilities across the former’s network.
Known as the Care Alliance, this collaboration focuses on implementing artificial intelligence (AI)-powered imaging technologies and improving care delivery for patients and clinicians.
The partnership aims to enhance access to advanced imaging services across California, enabling quicker scheduling, faster diagnostic results, and more consistent patient experiences. By integrating new technologies across its network, Sutter Health plans to streamline operations and support growing patient needs.
Key objectives include expanding diagnostic capacity, system integration, and timely upgrades of imaging technologies to maintain operational reliability.
Central to the partnership is the deployment of advanced imaging technologies, including PET/CT, SPECT/CT, MRI, CT, X-ray, and ultrasound. GE HealthCare will also provide interventional and maternal care solutions to Sutter Health’s outpatient centres.
AI-powered tools, such as GE HealthCare’s Omni Legend PET/CT, StarGuide SPECT/CT, and Vscan Air SL ultrasound, will be implemented alongside AIR Recon DL, a deep-learning tool for enhanced MRI imaging. These innovations aim to standardise imaging procedures and improve diagnostic efficiency across the healthcare system.
GE HealthCare US and Canada president and CEO Catherine Estrampes said: “This Care Alliance is a customised, clinician-focused approach aligned with our shared goals. It was jointly designed with expert assessment of how we provide our latest imaging technology in the right settings to serve patients most efficiently throughout their care journey, closer to home.”
The agreement supports Sutter Health’s plans to expand its care network with new facilities across Northern California. Projects include a cancer centre at Memorial Medical Center in California’s Central Valley and two new campuses in Silicon Valley focused on specialty care.
Additionally, the partnership will address workforce challenges through initiatives such as training programmes at Sutter Health University. GE HealthCare will support talent development and recruitment, including collaborations with radiologic technologist schools and community outreach efforts.
Sutter Health president and CEO Warner Thomas said: “This strategic partnership is rooted in our commitment to providing innovative, high-caliber care to our 3.5 million patients across Northern California and the Central Coast.
“We’re responding to what we’ve heard from our physicians and making comprehensive upgrades with the latest technology to boost our capacity and expand access points. This collaboration ensures that no matter where patients enter the Sutter Health system, they’ll receive seamless and coordinated care.”
The partnership includes a structured upgrade schedule to prevent obsolescence and maintain efficient operations. This approach ensures that Sutter Health remains equipped with the latest technologies to meet evolving healthcare demands.
In late 2024, GE HealthCare announced a partnership with the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre to advance the clinical application and research of its total-body PET/CT technology. Equipped with a 128cm ultra-high sensitivity detector, the total-body PET/CT technology has been developed to enhance molecular imaging capabilities and support cancer patient management.
