GE Unveils $6 Billion Health-Unit Plan.

[elleng]

Source: WSJ

General Electric launched its "Healthymagination" initiative Thursday in hopes of building a thematic presence in health care on par with its four-year-old "Ecomagination" campaign around environmental concerns.

"Health care needs new solutions," said Jeff Immelt, GE's chairman and chief executive. "We must innovate with smarter processes and technologies that help doctors and hospitals deliver better health care to more people at a lower cost."

GE said it will allocate $6 billion over the next six years for the effort, including $3 billion toward developing products it claims will lower costs, increase access and improve health-care quality. That is more than double the $1.2 billion GE said it had planned to spend on health-care research and development over the period.



Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124173070387297801.html

[aquart]

1. Do I have any reason to be skeptical?

[elleng]

2. Why would you be?

Big business looks for big ventures, and often succeeds.

[pattmarty]

4. I believe you're thinking of way, way back in the 40's & 50's.............

..........In todays supergreed climate corporations DON'T operate responsibly to their customers, stockholders or the environment. If you really believe your response, I got a really cool bridge for sale. We need regulation on ALL business (not just the banks) so they WILL act responsibly. I don't have any problem with a company making a profit, the problem is when they expect these 20% plus returns on investment AND they thumb their noses at their customers and employees.

[elleng]

5. I know all about regulation and deregulation;

lost my best job because of it. I also know that GE has been very successful over the years (as well as being known as one of the best places to work.) I'll watch their progress.

[pattmarty]

7. I hope that big business begins to change their ways, but I ain't gonna........

........hold my breath. There are good companies out there, I worked for a "few" myself, but most are almost deadly in their belief of the bottom line and only the bottom line. Have you noticed the ads on MSNBC for what you were saying about GE (I know GE owns NBC)?

[elleng]

8. I don't expect them to change their focus on the bottom line;

laws require them to do their best for shareholders. Haven't noticed MSNBC ads. BUT, they can, and should, do useful, good things well.

[ginnyinWI]

10. it is a great place to work.

My husband has been working for GE Healthcare since 1978. Never had a reason to go anywhere else. Great perks, great health coverage, great working environment. They have consistently been in the top ten best places to work.

GE started their new green initiative four years ago. Smart CEO's look to the future so that they can be the first ones to jump onto trends. GE knew which way the country was turning even then. They are used to leading the way and other companies follow. It's smart business to be green now. They are doing tons of little things too, like changing the parking lot lighting in all their facilities; it adds up when you are a company as huge as GE.

Ever needed an MRI? My husband is a support engineer for their MRI scanner. GE Healthcare, based in the Milwaukee area, makes scanners well as a lot of other healthcare diagnostic machines. They have a new digital mammogram that drastically reduces exposure to x-ray.

"Progressive" is a word that does fit this company. All companies are not evil. And say what you will, GE looks out for its employees. When Fallujah happened they pulled all of their people out of Iraq and they have not been back.

There is a bias here at DU that is mis-informed.

[aquart]

15. Thank you.

I've never even heard of GE Healthcare before. I only know of bulbs and defense. I appreciate the information.

[Demeter]

3. So, Imaginary Medical Care to Go With Imaginary Environmental Care?

Imagine I-Am-A-GE-Lightbulb joke comes to mind.

[Hugin]

6. It's all so... so... delightfully...

Imaginary*! :starryeyes:




(*All done at no less than a 20% profit... Guaranteed!)

[high density]

9. You can help fund the effort!

http://www.geinterestplus.com/

Have fun. ;)

[defendandprotect]

11. What does GE know that we don't know . . . yet -- ???

GE has good PR -- but a always a very right wing company --
they've been very involved in making weapons for government --

Also, in that regard they were for a very long time one of the only corporations
convicted of defrauding the government. After a long time, a few others joined the list.

They have a lousey history -- so I've been rather surprised at the Olbermann programming -

[kickysnana]

12. BBC Anchor mentioned to GE CEO that his ilk are viewed as "the antichrist".

Pure waste of scarce resources to enrich already rich "do nothing" corporations.

[Auggie]

13. Sounds like a preemptive strike against another way of lowering health costs

called SINGLE PAYER.

[asp64064]

14. "Healthymagination" my A** - Wake Up People !!!

$6 Billion won't begin to cover the damage GE is responsible for in health care over the past 20 years. Why don't you just have Immelt bend over so all GE supporters can continue to kiss his a**. GE is the reason health care is no longer affordable in this country. This is a PR stunt to buy influence for all the Anti-trust, fraud and corruption that has surrounded GE in recent years. Do your home work!!! GE paid $600 million to take a company (neoforma) that lost $900 million private just to hide the fraud and conspiracy with Novation, VHA & UHC. Do you see Law Enforcement (DOJ) doing anything? Pay to Play Baby!!!

http://www.medicalsupplychain.com/pdf%5CSettlement%20Letter%20to%20Jeffrey%20Immelt.pdf

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/11/prweb315878.htm

http://www.medicalsupplychain.com/news.htm