GOTHENBURG, Sweden--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal Elbeuf, Louviers and Val de Reuil (CHIELVR) is an integrated system of hospitals, clinics and long-term care facilities serving 160,000 people and has a 1,000 plus bed capacity across different municipalities in Normandy, northwest France.
In 2012 CHIELVR asked Ascom to help modernize its information and communication systems. Ascom was the natural choice for the task, having provided CHIELVR with assisted living and nurse call solutions since 2004. But the challenge posed in 2012 was a significant step forward in scope and sophistication; involving the phased integration of clinical, technical and personal safety systems via the Ascom middleware platform.
“Put simply,” says Cyril Dufresne, Director of Solutions at Ascom France, “we are implementing an ‘integrated workflow intelligence’ solution. This means we help mobilize and distribute multiple types of mission-critical data and communications to individual caregivers’ mobile devices. This information is prioritized, distributed and made traceable by Ascom middleware—helping to improve patient care, workflow efficiency, and worker safety.”
The integrated communications solution for CHIELVR is built around Ascom’s IP-DECT system, which combines the convenience and low capital costs of IP technology with the proven reliability of DECT telephony. “This is a major and ongoing project,” says Dufresne. Linking nurse call, wander control, lone worker and technical alarms into one seamless solution calls for smart and resilient technology.”
Buildings talk… now CHIELVR can listen
Technical alarms are a crucial part of the Ascom solution for CHIELVR. Alerts concerning equipment and/or building failures now go directly to the handsets of assigned responders. The same goes for fire and leak alarms. Alerts go straight through to the right people, helping to ensure the fastest, most appropriate response.
“The new communication solution connects all our teams and brings true intelligence to the management of critical information—it strengthens the efficiency of our organization,” according to the technical services manager at CHIELVR. ”Patient safety and comfort has improved. As has the response and travel times of caregivers and technical staff.”
Event traceability is another key element in the overall solution. The location and duration of every nurse and caregiver response to patients’ calls are now automatically logged. This provides CHIELVR with valuable analytical data, and also provides proof of care. “Such proof is increasingly important in today’s hospitals," says Ascom’s Dufresne. “It can help reassure patients’ families that their loved ones are receiving appropriate care.”
CHIELVR uses approximately 600 Ascom IP-DECT handsets. Technical support staff are currently being upgraded to the Ascom d41 model. While caregivers are receiving the Ascom d81. The solution also includes special, discreet transceivers worn as pendants by Alzheimer patients and others at risk of wandering.
“We have with the new solution achieved some key objectives at CHIELVR,” says Dufresne in conclusion. “We have brought new services to staff and patients. Workflow efficiency has been boosted. Access to information is better. Caregiver responsiveness has been enhanced. Communication and collaboration among care teams has improved. Staff—particularly lone workers—are safer. And CHIELVR is better able to harvest and analyze key data.”
About Ascom
Ascom is a global solutions provider focused on healthcare ICT and mobile workflow solutions. The vision of Ascom is to close digital information gaps allowing for the best possible decisions – anytime and anywhere. Ascom’s mission is to provide mission-critical, real-time solutions for highly mobile, ad hoc, and time-sensitive environments. Ascom uses its unique product and solutions portfolio and software architecture capabilities to devise integration and mobilization solutions that provide truly smooth, complete and efficient workflows for healthcare as well as for industry, security and retail sectors.
Ascom is headquartered in Baar (Switzerland), has subsidiaries in 15 countries and employs around 1,300 people worldwide. Ascom registered shares (ASCN) are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange in Zurich.
