Technology transforming the way we work

The role of a nurse is forever changing as caring for the sick is becoming more complicated. Recent studies have outlined that clinicians spend a lot of their time looking for information, instead of spending time at the patient’s bedside.

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It is clear that some tools are unquestionably having an impact on improving the way we work. Within a hospital environment these technological developments can help aide our clinicians to be more mobile and retrieve information on the go, rather them looking for the information.

A topical example is the barcode technology that can be used as patient identification, drug identification and medical management. Barcode based systems can help improve the accuracy of records, management of medication and availability of reliable information at the point of care. Which in turn can minimise errors and enhances the overall safety of care.

While technology cannot replace clinical skills and decision making, some innovations like the barcode technology can help make healthcare safer and simpler. 

Nurse Call solution enabling proficient workflows enters the Australian market

Last week, Ascom officially released its North American product, the Ascom Telligence Nurse Call system in Australia and New Zealand.

Ascom believes that Nurse Call systems in today’s healthcare environment needs to be able to deliver communication solutions that are cost-effective, superiority patient care and process efficient.

The unique platform seamlessly integrates with a variety of healthcare applications including medical equipment and real time location systems for optimal caregiver workflows.  

Telligence empowers clinicians with the right tools to bring the right information to the right staff at the right time. 

For more information on Ascom Telligence Nurse Call system please call 02-9698 9000 or email au-marketing@ascom.com

Ascom Annual Sales Conference 2014

Ascom Australia Staff from around the state went to the Gold Coast last week for our Annual Sale Conference.

Staff met for the 3 day conference to review the past 12 months, share experiences, opportunities and plan for an exciting 2014. Guest speakers included Joakim Heino (Ekahau), Howard Hsiung (Advantech) & Ken Badenfours (Ascom Sweden)

A big congratulations to Andrew Weiss (Melbourne) and Anna Palozzi (Sydney) who were rewarded Sale consultants of the year.  

Accepting the annual cricket bat award.

Product discussions lead around new products for 2014 such as Computer on wheels (AMiS-50 - Advantech), Personal Alarm (Disty-Guard), Location analytic platform (Ekahau -Vision 2.0) and Patient Monitoring (GE Healthcare). 

A big thank you to all guest speakers including Ken Badenfours (Partner Program Manager) making the long 30 hour journey to join us from Sweden to present and discuss future plans and products. Recapping the value we have with our VoWifi, IP-DECT, Nurse Call and paging technologies that smartly integrated via our software like Unite and DURAsuite optimising Mission-Critical processes. 

Ascom Acquires Integrated Wireless

As part of it's growth strategies of increasing penetration in established markets, expanding regionally, and increasing software and services based business, Ascom has acquired it's Australasian value added distributor Integrated Wireless – as announced today (24th December, 2013)... Click here to read more

Ascom Integrated Wireless' Australasian clients will benefit from the introduction of it's Power of One product strategy with a fully integrated platform delivering Patient Systems, Mobility and the Unite clinical applications suite.

In line with Ascom's global focus on services, Ascom Integrated Wireless will continue and increase it's focus on developing and delivering integrated wireless applications with it's core technology partners Ekahau, Juniper, Advantech, Secure Care Products and Trans-Data Management.

The local 60 strong multi-skilled workforce will leverage the capabilities of Ascom's 1,800 employees globally and the annual AUD60M annual R&D investment, to deliver advanced deployment and support services for Australasia.

For further detail contact us at sales@integratedwireless.com.au

A4 Asset Tags

With the release of the new W4 patient tags, Ekahau have launched a new asset tag A4. The A4 tag is an active location tracking tag that operates over WIFI networks. By using standard WIFI (802.11) the A4 tag allows users to search for and locate equipment though a GUI interface.

Users can send text alerts to third party devices, if equipment leave their nominated areas. This type of tracking reduces the likelihood of theft and items being misplaced. The tags also include a 5v charger with the option of an external battery pack to further extend tags life.

To find out more go to www.integratedwireless.com.au or contact us on +61 02 9698 9000 

Ascom & KPN Join forces

Last Month Ascom & KPN established a partnership combining the two organisations offerings to help deliver a more cost effective, productive and efficient environment in the healthcare industry. Click here to read more

Understanding the growing demands of the healthcare sector the plans will be to develop a patient focused mobile healthcare concept that will enable better workflows. In which Ascom and KPN will provide a complete offer for the healthcare sector, including full integration from devices and applications to implementation and maintenance services.

About Ascom:
Ascom is a provider emergency wireless communications, based in Sweden. Operating in over 10 countries worldwide including Australia, constantly adjusting to the changing market environments providing solutions for Mission-Critical Communication.

About KPN:
KPN is a Dutch Telecommunications company, based in the Hague. KPN has over 6.3 million fixed-line telephone customers. Its mobile division has more than 33 million subscribers in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France and Spain.

Introducing Ekahau's new W4 Patient Tag

A recent report in Scotland found that more than 11,000 patients, many of whom were vulnerable, had left hospitals without being discharged by doctors. Click here to read the full article.

Could incidents like this be avoided with the use of Real Time Location Systems (RTLS), which use Wireless LAN (WiFi) systems to accurately locate people and assets.

Integrated Wireless have just released the new Ekahau W4 wristband RTLS tag. The new W4 patient tag is a comfortable wristband design, with detachable bands and an integrated assistance button.

Deploying the W4 patient tag allows staff to search and locate patients though easy-to-use graphical user interface software. In addition administrators can set alerts that are sent to security and clinical staff when tags leave specific areas.

The W4 tag is 100% waterproof, can be sterilised with fluids or wipes, and has rechargeable batteries with long battery life.

So it's out with the old.....

.....and in with the new W4 tag.

To find out more email sales@integratedwireless.com.au or call +61 (0) 9698 9000  www.integratedwireless.com.au

Intensive Care Conference

GE Healthcare with it’s partner Integrated Wireless (IW) attended the ANZICS/ACCCN Intensive care conference in Hobart, Tasmania (17-18th of October).

The Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS) is the leading advocate on all intensive care related matters in Australia & NZ. ANZICS leads the world in intensive care research through its Clinical Trials Group and patient databases. The ANZICS conference bring together intensive care (IC) specialists to listen to subject matter experts and to see the latest IC technology.

IW demonstrated the latest Ascom Mobile Monitoring Gateway (MMG) that in near real time dispatches GE Carescape patient monitoring alarm information to mobile clinical staff carrying Ascom wireless handhelds.

Ascom MMG is the only TGA approved secondary monitoring solution available in the Australian marketplace.

MMG provides…

·         Improved response time to critical patient events

·         Reduced ”alarm fatigue” through smart alarm management

·         Increased efficiency of nursing staff by avoiding unnecessary interruption

·         Increase patient satisfaction and quality of care

Ascom MMG also enables the presentation of waveforms from Carescape on the Ascom wireless handhelds.

The response to the Ascom MMG solution was exceptionally positive with many client’s expressing keen interest. Overall ANZICS was a great event and a fantastic chance to engage and talk to IC practitioners.

Wandering Patient Nearly Dies

According to the Herald Sun, a 77-year-old man was rushed to Frankston Hospital on Tuesday with Hypothermia after wandering from his care home in Frankston South.

Robert Thompson went missing from Baptcare Peninsula View around 5:10pm on June 25^th, only to be found nearly 24 hours later in a ditch on the side of Moordooduc Hwy by Police conducting an on-foot search. Sgt. Gary Richards of Carrum Downs Police Station said that without the foot patrol, Thompson "would have most likely died".

 

A lucky end to what could have been a devastating day for Thompson's family, friends, and those at Baptcare Peninsula Health.

This situation could have been prevented and can be prevented in the future. Integrated Wireless provide Patient Wandering Solutions to Residential Aged Care homes throughout Australia. The patient wears an active RFID tag that transmits packets of data to infrared beacon receivers placed above every door in the facility. These wrist bands will raise an alarm when a patient passes under a specific beacon (exit), or tries to tamper with or remove the band. 

Given the ageing population facing Australia, it is critical to be proactive with regards to patient safety rather than reactive. For detail on IW's solutions, click here!

To get in touch, click here.