Drawing on its extensive technology proficiency and broad experience as an innovative technology provider to the medical profession, Siemens Southern Africa has announced the availability of its international Hi Path HiMed Solution for the healthcare industry.
Grant Gallichan of Siemens Southern Africa says the company's relationship with the medical profession stretches back to 1896 when Siemens first patented the X-ray tube. Since then, it has become an international leader in the provision of specialist medical and dental equipment.
"Siemens' long-standing relationship with the healthcare industry led the company's developers to seek a turnkey solution which would address the efficiency and patient experience demands of today's healthcare facility," he says.
"By teaming the specialist skills of Siemens' medical, communications, networking and information technology proficiencies, we have developed the HiMed Solution which not only address current healthcare requirements, but prepares facilities for tomorrow's innovations."
Based on the company's HiPath enterprise convergence architecture, the HiMed solution utilises thin client technology to deliver a multitude of services through the 'Cockpit' - a specialised terminal which is located at every bed.
"With the HiMed central media server at the core of the system, the Cockpits deliver access to applications via the local area network, as well as communication services and television, Internet and radio services," says Gallichan, adding that as the healthcare industry comes under pressure to maintain maximum occupancy, the ability to provide patients with advanced facilities will become a major differentiator.
"Given the option of either sharing a television with three people or having your own terminal that provides you with telephone facilities, Internet and e-mail access, television, radio and even movies on demand, most people would certainly choose the latter. Even if these choices come at a cost, it can make a stressful hospital stay far more bearable," he says.
Hospitals and clinics that invest in HiMed also have the option of charging for these additional services, which could provide an additional revenue source and a considerably greater return on investment.
Furthermore, Gallichan says HiMed has delivered substantial cost savings in its installations in Europe and the Americas through the streamlining of processes, removal of repeated manual administration and the increased efficiency of the establishment as a whole.
"With the HiMed system, healthcare centres are able to do away with the majority of their paper-based systems. Information is entered at the patient terminal and is directly linked to other departments, increasing accuracy and reducing duplication," he says. "Also, by using portal technology, doctors are able to continuously monitor patient progress from afar, a capability that significantly improves delivery of healthcare."
Aware that the HiMed terminals provide access to highly confidential information such as lab reports and diagnostics, the solution makes use of smart cards to control access and ensure security.
"As a result only authorised people, including the patient, are able to retrieve information from the network," he concludes.
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Siemens Communications is one of the largest players in the global telecommunications industry. Siemens is the only provider in the market that offers its customers a full-range portfolio, from devices for end-users to complex network infrastructures for enterprises and carriers as well as related services. Siemens Communications is the world's innovation leader in convergent technologies, products and services for wireless, fixed and enterprise networks. It is the largest group within Siemens and operates in more than 160 countries around the world. In fiscal 2003 (year-end 30 September), its 60 000-strong workforce posted sales of about 17 billion euros.
More about Siemens Communications at www.siemens.com/communications.
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