Integrating SpeechMagic with the region's Java-based RIS is another step towards harmonizing the healthcare sector's IT infrastructure, by easing information capturing and improving reporting efficiency. This is the fourth region-wide success for Philips' industrial grade speech recognition technology SpeechMagic within the last six months, following similar projects in France, Norway and Spain's Castilla La Mancha region.

The Valencia region is home to approximately 10 percent of Spain's total population (4.9 million people). The region's 47 hospitals and policlinics count more than 400,000 stays per year. The Valencia Healthcare Council is implementing, across the region, a universal Java-based RIS, thus sharing a common platform for management of radiology consultations. This RIS will now be enhanced with speech recognition, a project which will be realized through Philips Speech Recognition System's integration partner, New Doors.

Dr. Miguel Chavarría Díaz, director of the technical committee and the radiology IT director at Hospital La Fé in Valencia explained: "Around 100 radiologists in the region have so far been using speech recognition integrated with their own document creation solution or Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS). We will now provide a common platform throughout the region, thus easing software administration and adding to working flexibility, as radiologists will find a familiar system throughout all hospitals in our region. After the development of a region-wide RIS, speech recognition was the next step in order to improve healthcare efficiency, and the speed and quality of care."

Approximately 50 percent of Spain's radiologists have adopted speech recognition technology as part of their front-end workflow. Now the radiologists in Valencia will join their colleagues throughout the country to benefit from faster, simplified report creation.

Philips SpeechMagic is implemented in more than 8,000 sites in 45 nations and has seen uninterrupted adoption - first on a departmental level, then in hospital-wide installations and in recent months throughout entire healthcare regions.

About Royal Philips Electronics
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a global leader in healthcare, lifestyle and technology, delivering products, services and solutions through the brand promise of "sense and simplicity." Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 126,000 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of $37.7 billion (EUR 30.4 billion) in 2005, the company is a market leader in medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring systems, energy efficient lighting solutions, personal care and home appliances, as well as consumer electronics. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.