The name change says it all. On Oct. 1, 2001, Siemens Medical Systems became Siemens Medical Solutions. The new name reflects a substantial internal shift in business strategy. The company’s traditional stronghold — medical devices — will continue to play a role in future business operations. But it is no longer Siemens’ focal point.
The reality is that the healthcare marketplace demands a different strategy. Siemens Medical Solutions sees IT and knowledge management as part and parcel of the medical imaging business. In this new marketplace, vendors partner with customers: their goals are intertwined. Top on Siemens’ list is improving patient care and enhancing workflow. And while a name change can appear to happen overnight, becoming a solutions provider is an intense process that requires commitment, vision, and leadership. At Siemens that leader is President and CEO Erich R. Reinhardt, Ph.D.
Reinhardt is an engineer at heart, so the lifeblood of Siemens runs deep in his veins. An electrical engineer by training, he earned a doctorate and honorary professorship from the University of Stuttgart, having done research at the University’s Institute for Physical Electronics. Reinhardt joined Siemens AG, Medical Engineering Group in 1983 as a manager of application development for MRI. Three years later, he took over the Magnetic Resonance Tomography Division.
In 1990, Reinhardt became managing director, Siemens Ltd. in Bombay. He returned to headquarters in Erlangen, Germany, four years later and was appointed a member of the board and then chairman, group executive management for the Medical Engineering Group.
Please refer to the November 2001 issue for the complete story. For information on article reprints, contact Martin St. Denis
