Sutter Health teams with GE for AI-driven care expansion

USA – GE HealthCare has entered into a transformative seven-year partnership with Sutter Health, a nonprofit health system headquartered in Sacramento, California.

Dubbed the “Care Alliance,” this collaboration represents one of GE HealthCare’s largest enterprise strategic initiatives.

According to Bloomberg, the deal could generate US $1 billion in revenue, while Sutter Health anticipates annual savings of US $30 million to US $40 million.

These savings are expected to stem from reduced costs, standardized equipment, and enhanced services, as highlighted by Mark Sevco, Sutter Health’s Chief Operating Officer, in an interview with Fierce Healthcare.

The Bloomberg estimate also factors in decreased staffing and equipment expenses.

The collaboration aims to improve access to diagnostic care across California, bringing advanced technology to local communities.

This initiative will enable quicker appointment scheduling, faster diagnostic imaging results, earlier diagnoses, and more consistent and timely care.

Supporting Sutter Health’s growth strategy

Sutter Health, which serves 3.5 million patients annually through its 28 acute care facilities and 57,000 employees, reported US $18 billion in revenue in 2024 at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference. The partnership aligns with its strategy to expand access and optimize operations.

Over the past decade, Sutter Health allocated 16% of its capital to ambulatory operations, a figure set to rise to 30% over the next 10 years.

These investments aim to address network gaps and expand access, with plans to open 23 new ambulatory sites and three acute care facilities within four years.

These expansions could serve an additional 400,000 patients, according to Warner Thomas, Sutter Health’s President and CEO.

Enhancing access and specialized care

Sutter Health is focused on advancing service lines in heart and vascular care, cancer care, and neurosciences. A new cancer center is planned for the Sutter Memorial Medical Center campus in California’s Central Valley.

Additionally, the organization has announced a US $800 million investment in two flagship campuses in Silicon Valley, scheduled to open in 2025 and 2027.

These facilities will house over 750 physicians and clinicians, offering integrated primary and specialty care, including women’s health, orthopedics, and heart care.

The partnership will also provide ancillary services like imaging, diagnostics, labs, and ambulatory surgery.

By working with Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group and The Sobrato Organization, Sutter Health aims to transform office spaces into state-of-the-art medical facilities.

“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,” said Thomas.

“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.”

Leveraging advanced technology

The Care Alliance focuses on implementing GE HealthCare’s cutting-edge AI-powered imaging and digital solutions across Sutter Health’s system.

This includes PET/CT, SPECT/CT, MRI, CT, X-ray, nuclear medicine, and ultrasound technologies. Key innovations, such as the Omni Legend PET/CT, StarGuide SPECT/CT, and Vscan Air SL ultrasound with Caption AI™ software, will enhance diagnostic capabilities.

Additionally, GE HealthCare’s AIR Recon DL MR image reconstruction technology will improve image clarity, reduce artifacts, and shorten MRI scan times, enhancing workflow efficiency and patient comfort.

Catherine Estrampes, President & CEO of GE HealthCare U.S. and Canada, remarked, “This Care Alliance is a customized, 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 partnership also includes significant investment in workforce development. Through Sutter Health University and other initiatives, technologists, nurses, and physicians will receive ongoing training and education.

GE HealthCare will also collaborate on scalable workforce programs, including community outreach, talent acquisition, and retention strategies.

These efforts aim to address clinician shortages and support the next generation of healthcare providers.