Gov. Inslee gets ‘epic’ tour of Philips manufacturing in Bothell | Photos

Gov. Jay Inslee told Philips Healthcare employees that their newest product is epic during a visit to Bothell on Wednesday morning.

“When most people think of the great sound of Washington state, they think of Bing Crosby or Jimi Hendrix,” Inslee told Philips Healthcare employees. “I think of Philips Healthcare … The EPIQ is epic.”

Inslee visited the Philips Healthcare manufacturing building in Bothell to help the company with its launch of EPIQ and receive a tour of the plant. Philips is celebrating the release of a new generation of its ultrasound machine called EPIQ, which was unveiled in August.

EPIQ will be used by cardiologists, radiologists and OBGYNs in everything from detecting heart issues to watching the growth of unborn babies during pregnancy.

“You are building a product made of plastic and metal,” Inslee told the workers prior to his tour. “But what you are really creating is birthdays because they save lives. Thank you on behalf of 6.5 million Washingtonians.”

The Philips Healthcare building is located in the Canyon Park neighborhood of Bothell on the east side of Interstate 405. The company employs 2,000 people in Bothell and produces oral healthcare products and cardiac care and AED equipment, along with ultrasounds.

“Philips is a well kept secret in the state,” said Conrad Smits, senior vice president and general manager of Philips Ultrasound. “We are the market leader in echocardiography.”

Philips is the second-largest ultrasound producer in the world and makes all the ultrasound systems in Washington state.

“We want to change the course of healthcare through sound,” Smits said. “It’s what gets me up in the morning.”

Inslee said that producing the diagnostic machines is also helping to curb healthcare costs.

“It makes healthcare more affordable when we can diagnose health problems earlier and keep people out of the hospital,” said Inslee.

Inslee presented Smits with an apple pin, proclaiming the employees of the Philips Healthcare plant in Bothell “Washingtonians of the Day.” The pin is a tradition and an honor that the governor bestows each day to highlight great accomplishments in the state.

He also talked about the healthcare industry’s impact on the Washington state economy.

“We have 90,000 people in the life science field in Washington state and you are part of that incredible infrastructure,” said Inslee. “This part of the economy grew at 10 percent even through the recession.”

He even compared it to many of the biggest industries in the state.

“We are proud of Boeing airplanes and $4 cups of coffee,” he said, sparking laughter. “And today we are proud of Philips.”

During the tour, Inslee, cloaked in a blue lab coat, was shown how the EPIQ is assembled during a walk through of the manufacturing plant.

“The performance is mind-numbing,” Director of research and development Dan Schmiesing told Inslee during the tour.

He watched as an ultrasonographer, Joyce MacKay, tested the new machine on herself.

“Is your heart beating faster? I have that effect on people,” Inslee joked.

MacKay showed the governor some of the images of her heart and the different information that doctors can obtain about a patient using the machine.

“Thanks for keeping our hearts going,” Inslee told MacKay.

Gov. Jay Inslee presents Senior Vice President and General Manager of Philips Ultrasound an apple pin, proclaiming Philips employees in Bothell “Washingtonians of the Day.”