german hospital enhances patient services · integration and accessibility that are essential in a...
TRANSCRIPT
Case Study
“The progressive integration of hospital systemsand voice communications using a convergednetwork provides us with precisely those gainsin efficiency that we need to continue to besuccessful in the face of competition”
Oliver BredelManaging DirectorKreiskliniken Reutlingen GmbH.
While rebuilding its Albklinik hospital in Münsingen, operating company
Kreiskliniken Reutlingen decided to invest in advanced technologies in
order to improve patient care and services. It chose an integrated, high-
performance infrastructure based on the Cisco Systems Medical-Grade
Network concept, featuring IP telephony and wireless solutions. Efficiency
gains, cost savings and enhanced patient care have all followed, contributing
to a more effective and competitive organisation.
Business ChallengesThe Albklinik in Münsingen belongs to a group of hospitals serving the second largest
conurbation in the German federal state of Baden-Württemberg. The three hospitals
operate as a collective unit and, with over 1,000 beds in total and a combined staff of
2,000, they provide a broad range of medical services.
Recently rebuilt, the new Albklinik hospital came into operation early in 2005. The
reconstruction gave the operating company, Kreiskliniken Reutlingen, a unique
opportunity to implement state-of-the-art communications in the new building. The
primary objective was to use innovative technologies to improve patient care and
services which would, in turn, enhance the hospital's competitive advantage in the
fiercely contested German healthcare market.
At the same time, Kreiskliniken Reutlingen expected to achieve cost savings and staff
efficiency improvements, thereby further enhancing patient care. The process of
reviewing all aspects of networking and systems integration would also serve as a
model for the other hospitals in the group.
Solution In order to achieve these goals, Kreiskliniken Reutlingen decided to implement a
converged IP network using switching, IP Communications and wireless technologies
from Cisco Systems. The infrastructure was designed around the Cisco concept of a
Medical-Grade Network, which seeks to provide the high levels of interaction,
integration and accessibility that are essential in a modern healthcare environment.
German Hospital Enhances Patient Services
Executive Summary
Customer Name
• Albklinik Münsingen, Germany
Industry
• Public sector - Healthcare
Business Challenges
• To implement future-proof communicationstechnology that would improve workflowand patient care, thereby enhancing thehospital's competitive position
Solution
• A high-performance, convergedinfrastructure based on the Cisco Systemsconcept of a Medical-Grade Network
• Cisco Systems IP Communications,including IP telephony, and wirelesstechnologies to integrate clinical andadministrative systems and patient services
Business Results
• Better integrated information, applicationsand systems are reducing costs, saving timeand increasing the efficiency of clinical andadministrative staff
• Improved access to medical data is raisingthe standard of patient care
• More effective communication betweenstaff and patients is further improving thequality of care
• Patient services have been dramaticallyimproved, placing Kreiskliniken Reutlingenin a stronger position in the fiercelycompetitive German healthcare market
“Overall, the service costs foroperating the network areconsiderably lower than those forthe previous system. It was a wisemove to go for standards-basednetwork technology, which can beintegrated easily. We will alsobenefit from this when we connectup the other sites as planned.”
Rainer HirtHead of PlanningKreiskliniken Reutlingen GmbH
In addition to all the hospital's data applications, the secure,
high-performance network also carries all its telephone services.
Cisco CallManager software provides the call processing
functionality, and hospital staff use both wired and wireless
Cisco IP phones to access a range of telephony and data services.
A Cisco wireless local area network (WLAN) is integrated into
the wireline infrastructure. This allows medical staff, who are
frequently on the move, to remain in contact with patients or
colleagues not only via wireless IP phones, but also via other
mobile devices such as PDAs or laptops.
Healthcare specialist, xevIT networks GmbH, and building
automation system provider, Novar, collaborated with Cisco to
deliver its Nurse Call solution which is part of the Cisco
Clinical Connection Suite of clinical applications. This allowed
the partners to integrate the hospital's existing nurse call and
alarm systems into the IP infrastructure. As a result, staff no
longer need to carry multiple devices, including pagers, because
they can use their Cisco wireless IP phones to return calls,
forward alerts to colleagues, and even view patients' records
and other data to help them make better-informed decisions.
Business ResultsSince the new network was introduced early in 2005, it has
enabled the Albklinik to progressively integrate its clinical and
administrative systems. Recent innovations include Computed
Tomography ('CT' or 'CAT' scanning) via teleradiology
(the electronic transmission of radiographic patient images
and consultative text). Rainer Hirt, Head of Planning at
Kreiskliniken Reutlingen, explains: “In addition to the existing
Hospital Information System, we have now networked patients'
electronic records, radiology systems and Computed
Tomography at all three hospitals. This enables us to deliver the
same level of high-quality diagnostics service at all sites.”
Münsingen is the first hospital within the group to use IP
telephony and WLAN technologies which have generated
benefits ranging from efficiency gains to cost reductions.
Enhanced communications, enabled by the new network,
are at the heart of these improvements.
“IP telephony and wireless LAN help to reduce costs and save
considerable amounts of time. We can use these gains to
improve patient care,” says Oliver Bredel, Managing Director
of Kreiskliniken Reutlingen.
For example, the integration of the hospital's Clinicom 21 light
paging system into the telephony infrastructure enables patients
to communicate their needs more directly and discretely to their
carers. At the same time, it saves nurses unnecessary journeys
and enables them to care for patients more efficiently while
moving around the ward or unit.
IP telephony has also greatly simplified the invoicing of
patients' telephone calls. This is because the Cisco CallManager
solution is directly linked to the invoicing software, thereby
eliminating the need for manual entry of billing data by the
hospital's administration staff.
Another advantage of Cisco IP telephony is that patients can
take their IP phone and phone number with them if they are
transferred between wards, without the intervention of a
telephone engineer.
Being able to get hold of staff more easily, particularly in an
emergency, is an important benefit for the hospital management.
Emergency calls can be forwarded to every member of staff's
wireless IP phone and text messages can be added. The
technology is also able to handle group calls or search for a
specific member of staff, helping to locate colleagues without
unnecessary, and potentially life-threatening, delays.
Early results suggest that hospital processes have become leaner,
resulting in noticeable improvements in the quality of both
clinical and nursing care. “The merging of different hospital
systems via the Cisco network has improved working
procedures on all wards. We are avoiding duplication of effort
and, by using our staff more efficiently, we are enhancing
patient care,” says Rainer Hirt.
Such service improvements also have a sound business basis, as
Oliver Bredel explains: “We are using innovative technologies
specifically to enhance our competitive position in relation to
other hospitals.”
At the same time, service costs have fallen and the switch to
treatment invoicing according to Diagnostic Related Groups
(the government's DRG financing requirements) has also
brought with it some added financial benefit. IP telephony
enables the hospital managers to save on internal calls (which
are effectively free of charge) and improve workflow in their
institutions, thanks to the integration offered by the technology.
In the long term, the Albklinik in Münsingen will continue to
benefit from using one infrastructure to meet all its
communications requirements: for example, administration and
maintenance costs will be significantly lower than for separate
networks. As well as providing flexible and secure links for
mobile employees, wireless technology also provides a cost-
effective alternative to the infrastructure that would otherwise
be required for digital enhanced cordless telecommunications
(DECT) equipment.
“IP Telephony and Wireless LANhelp to reduce costs and saveconsiderable amounts of time. We can use these gains to improvepatient care.”
Oliver BredelManaging DirectorKreiskliniken Reutlingen GmbH
Rainer Hirt comments: “At the same time, we have
comfortably circumvented the risks posed by DECT interfaces.
Overall, the service costs for operating the network are
considerably lower than those for the previous system.
“It was a wise move to go for standards-based network
technology, which can be integrated easily. We will also benefit
from this when we connect up the other sites as planned,” he
adds, referring to the Reutlinger Klinikum at Steinenberg (the
academic teaching hospital of Tübingen University) and the
Ermstalklinik at Bad Urach.
As it is highly scalable and flexible, the new infrastructure will
also safeguard the investments made so far. Oliver Bredel
concludes: “The progressive integration of hospital systems and
voice communications using a converged network provides us
with precisely those gains in efficiency that we need to continue
to be successful in the face of competition.”
“In addition to the existing hospitalinformation system, we have nownetworked patient’s electronicrecords, radiology systems andcomputed tomography at all threehospitals. This enables us to deliverthe same level of high-qualitydiagnostics service at all sites.”
Rainer HirtHead of PlanningKreiskliniken Reutlingen GmbH
Argentina • Australia • Austria • Belgium • Brazil • Bulgaria • Canada • Chile • China PRC • Colombia • Costa Rica • Croatia • Cyprus • Czech RepublicDenmark • Dubai, UAE • Finland • France • Germany • Greece • Hong Kong SAR • Hungary • India • Indonesia • Ireland • Israel • ItalyJapan • Korea • Luxembourg • Malaysia • Mexico • The Netherlands • New Zealand • Norway • Peru • Philippines • Poland • PortugalPuerto Rico • Romania • Russia • Saudi Arabia • Scotland • Singapore • Slovakia • Slovenia • South Africa • Spain • SwedenSwitzerland • Taiwan • Thailand • Turkey • Ukraine • United Kingdom • United States • Venezuela • Vietnam • Zimbabwe
Copyright © 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. CCSP, CCVP, the Cisco Square Bridge logo, Follow Me Browsing, and StackWise are trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc.; Changing the Way We Work,Live, Play, and Learn, and iQuick Study are service marks of Cisco Systems, Inc.; and Access Registrar, Aironet, ASIST, BPX, Catalyst, CCDA, CCDP, CCIE, CCIP, CCNA, CCNP, Cisco, the Cisco Certified
Internetwork Expert logo, Cisco IOS, Cisco Press, Cisco Systems, Cisco Systems Capital, the Cisco Systems logo, Cisco Unity, Empowering the Internet Generation, Enterprise/Solver, EtherChannel, EtherFast,EtherSwitch, Fast Step, FormShare, GigaDrive, GigaStack, HomeLink, Internet Quotient, IOS, IP/TV, iQ Expertise, the iQ logo, iQ Net Readiness Scorecard, LightStream, Linksys, MeetingPlace, MGX, theNetworkers logo, Networking Academy, Network Registrar, Packet, PIX, Post-Routing, Pre-Routing, ProConnect, RateMUX, ScriptShare, ScriptShare, SlideCast, SMARTnet, StrataView Plus, TeleRouter, TheFastest Way to Increase Your Internet Quotient, and TransPath are registered trademarks or trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and certain other countries.
All other trademarks mentioned in this document or Website are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.(0502R) Printed in the UK
31152/ecoutez/so/may.06
Corporate HeadquartersCisco Systems, Inc.170 West Tasman DriveSan Jose, CA 95134-1706USAwww.cisco.comTel: 408 526-4000
800 553-NETS (6387)Fax: 408 526-4100
European HeadquartersCisco Systems International BVHaarlerbergparkHaarlerbergweg 13-19 1101 CH AmsterdamThe Netherlandswww-europe.cisco.comTel: 31 0 20 357 1000Fax: 31 0 20 357 1100
Americas HeadquartersCisco Systems, Inc.170 West Tasman DriveSan Jose, CA 95134-1706USAwww.cisco.comTel: 408 526-7660Fax: 408 527-0883
Asia Pacific HeadquartersCisco Systems, Inc.168 Robinson Road#28-01 Capital TowerSingapore 068912www.cisco.comTel: +65 6317 7777Fax: +65 6317 7799
Cisco Systems has more than 200 offices in the following countries and regions. Addresses, phone numbers, and fax numbers are listed on theCisco.com Website at www.cisco.com/go/offices.
Technology BlueprintAlbklink Münsingen has deployed a converged IP
infrastructure capable of carrying voice, data and video
traffic. It is based upon the Cisco concept of a Medical-Grade
Network designed to:
• Be more responsive - maximising the effectiveness of
application and device performance to distribute
information intelligently to improve quality of care
• Optimise responsiveness at the point of care to reduce the
number of medical errors and improve clinical productivity
• Use intelligence within the network to make the most vital
information available when, where and for whom it is
needed most
• Enhance integration of applications and services to
improve diagnostic capabilities, reduce time to treatment
for patients, shorten billing cycles and create new
revenue sources
• Provide seamless communication regardless of device
or location
• Be interactive, able to connect various communication
technologies to provide greater collaboration and
knowledge sharing.
The high-performance network backbone consists of Cisco
switching solutions, while Cisco CallManager software
provides call processing functionality. A Cisco Voice Gateway
connects the Albklinik's private network to the public
switched telephone network (PSTN). A range of Cisco IP
Phones, including the Cisco Wireless IP Phone 7920, deliver
voice and data services to clinical and administrative staff.
Cisco IP Phones are highly configurable, thanks to their
ability to act as XML (Extensible mMrkup Language)
terminals. They are flexible enough to run a range of
applications - for example, providing two-way
communications and information facilities to patients and
nursing staff.
The Albklinik's integrated wireless LAN is based on Cisco
Aironet Access Points. This enables staff to connect to the
network anywhere on the hospital campus using devices such
as wireless IP phones, PDAs and laptops.
Online diagnostics and remote management make it easier for
the IT department to identify and fix any problems. In
addition, both the wireline and wireless elements of the
infrastructure are fully redundant in design, to ensure high
levels of availability.
The xevIT Healthcare system combines with the Nurse Call
application from Cisco Clinical Connection Suite to integrate
existing nurse call and alarm systems into the IP network
through xevIT Communication Servers (XCS). Cisco Clinical
Connection Suite is an advanced set of clinical applications
that directs, locates and prioritises information for clinical
staff and their patients. Its four applications include: Nurse
Call, Patient Monitoring, Location-Based Services and
Collaborative Care.