InnerWireless, Inc., leading provider of in-building wireless systems, today announced that its Medical-grade Wireless Utility has been deployed throughout The Heart Center of Indiana (THCI) as a part of the Siemens Medical Solutions initiative to provide the most efficient patient care and guest information access possible. The Medical-grade Wireless Utility is a broadband antenna system that supports multiple wireless applications and devices, including 802.11 a/b/g standards, cellular phones, two-way radios and radio frequency location systems for asset tracking. Additionally, the Medical-grade Wireless Utility will support Siemens’ Soarian® software, a health information system currently being considered for implementation at THCI.
“After researching our choices for a wireless solution, it was clear to us and to Siemens that InnerWireless was the only system that would help us meet our goals of enhanced service through streamlined workflow and information access,” said Alec Williams, CIO of THCI. “We recognized that having guaranteed wireless coverage throughout the hospital was a key component to our complete solution for providing the best medical care possible, and InnerWireless helps us achieve that objective.”
Previously, THCI staff would log into health information programs through stationary computers to view patient information. Instead, with the Medical-grade Wireless Utility in place, patient information can be accessed from anywhere throughout the hospital via wireless devices, so clinicians and registration staff can collect and input patient information in real-time at the bedside. This same principle can be applied to the pharmaceutical staff; information is entered directly into the system, thereby significantly reducing the possibility of medication errors. THCI clinicians and staff also plan to use the InnerWireless system for cell phone communication, eliminating the need for traditional pagers at THCI.
“InnerWireless is very pleased that THCI and Siemens chose to rely on our Medical-grade Wireless Utility as its infrastructure for using wireless life-saving medical devices,” said Chris McCoy, senior vice president of corporate development at InnerWireless. “InnerWireless is proud to partner with THCI and Siemens – they share our vision for improving the quality of healthcare by bringing the best technologies to the clinical environment.”
THCI joins a distinguished group of more than 60 leading hospitals and health systems – including Vassar Brothers Medical Center, Children’s Memorial Hospital of Chicago, The University of Chicago Hospitals and Health System’s Bernard A. Mitchell Hospital and Comer Children’s Hospital, and the National Institutes of Health’s Mark O. Hatfield Clinical Research Center – in using InnerWireless to create a 21st century wireless ecosystem in their facilities.
About InnerWireless
InnerWireless, Inc. guarantees wireless coverage inside hospitals and healthcare-related facilities with its Medical-grade Wireless Utility, a unified, broadband wireless distribution platform. Engineered to support a full range of wireless services and applications, the Medical-grade Wireless Utility enables wireless systems essential for interpersonal communications, clinical operations, and building operations. In addition, InnerWireless has launched Spot to provide wireless, high-assurance location tracking for hospital assets, clinical staff and patients. For more information about InnerWireless, visit www.InnerWireless.com.
About The Heart Center of Indiana
The Heart Center of Indiana (THCI) is an entire complex of facilities and medical specialists focused on providing advanced, specialized treatment of cardiovascular disease in a warm, comfortable and caring environment. THCI was the first free-standing heart hospital in the Indianapolis metro area when it opened four years ago, and is a joint venture between St.Vincent Health and the physicians and surgeons of The Care Group and CorVasc. In addition to a state-of-the-art medical and surgical 80-bed hospital, THCI is home to a 24/7 Heart Emergency Unit, which received a five-star rating from HealthGrades. THCI has also been recognized by HealthGrades as #1 in Indiana and in the top 5% of all hospitals in the U.S. for overall cardiac services for 2006 and 2007. In September 2004, THCI signed a two-year research collaboration agreement with Siemens Medical Solutions, one of the world’s largest suppliers to the healthcare industry. Through the agreement, THCI will leverage Siemens’ most advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologies to discover innovative uses of MRI in cardiac care, reducing the need for invasive procedures and providing more efficient patient care. For more information on The Heart Center of Indiana, please visit www.theheartcenter.com.
About Siemens Medical Solutions
Siemens Medical Solutions of Siemens AG (NYSE:SI) with headquarters in Malvern, Pennsylvania, and Erlangen, Germany, is one of the largest suppliers to the healthcare industry in the world. The company is known for bringing together innovative medical technologies, healthcare information systems, management consulting, and support services, to help customers achieve tangible, sustainable, clinical and financial outcomes. Employing approximately 33,000 people worldwide and operating in more than 120 countries, Siemens Medical Solutions reported sales of 7.6 billion EUR, orders of 8.6 billion EUR and group profit of 976 million EUR for fiscal 2005.