Enhanced Technology At The New Children’s Hospital

from Practice Update, Winter 2006

Technology will have an enhanced look and feel at The new Children’s Hospital. New technologies will be integrated into our daily operations to provide superior communication and access to information for both patients and caregivers. Innovative technologies that will improve hospital operations include a new phone system, wireless communication devices that are integrated with medical equipment and nurse call systems. There are also plans for technology that you will not be able to see, but will enjoy the benefits of, including highly automated building control systems and re-radiating systems to help boost cell phone coverage throughout the building.

Telemedicine will be enhanced at the new facility with cutting edge equipment and dedicated locations. OR integration systems and PACS (picture archiving communication systems) imaging systems will enhance the way to deliver images throughout the hospital and beyond.

The entire hospital will be wireless including the outpatient building and office building.

A significant investment is being made to purchase state-of-the-art medical equipment that will have the capability of being integrated into the electronic medical records (EMR) and other information and communication systems.

Each patient room will have a patient entertainment and education system (or patient portal) that will deliver TV programming, games, movies, internet and education. Families will have the ability to connect wirelessly to the Internet or connect into a designated location in the patient room. Nurse call systems can allow immediate conversations with the patient’s caregivers.

Additional new features of the new Hospital include:

• Web access for patients and families throughout the hospital with wireless and wired options
• A patient portal which will allow patients to place electronic orders for the cafeteria from their patient rooms
• Security systems which will enhance the level of comfort for caregivers, patients and families. A higher standard of reliability and availability will be a high priority in the new building
• A high-quality cable plant, hidden behind the walls, that supports 45 telecommunications closets and a data center.