Integration and Interoperable Systems

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES

The Carescape patient data module for mobile patient monitoring, by GE Healthcare (Waukesha, WI), features a close-to-the-patient, self-powered design that alleviates portability constraints. Its lightweight, miniature design allows it to stay with the patient to capture and store all patient measurements—both standard and specialty—providing clinicians with the ability to maintain critical baseline measurements typically lost during transport. The product is a central component of the GE Carescape portfolio, an integrated suite of patient-monitoring devices, communications networks, and IT systems.

Philips Healthcare (Andover, MA) has developed an optimized repair and tracking system for its mobile diagnostic imaging systems. The system, Philips Remote Services (PRS) for Mobiles, includes a combination of networking links and hardware that facilitates ongoing equipment maintenance. The system eases the process of locating units and making repairs through its use of global positioning system technology, Internet data connectivity, and standard voice service to diagnose and potentially repair the imaging equipment remotely.

Cerner Corp. (Kansas City, MO) is partnering with medical device manufacturers through CareAware, a device connectivity architecture designed to seamlessly connect medical devices and electronic medical records (EMRs). Cerner's medical device certification program provides a formal framework for Cerner and medical device manufacturers to work together to integrate medical device data with the EMR via CareAware. For example, Cerner and Hill-Rom Inc. (Batesville, IN) have formed a strategic relationship under which Hill-Rom's intelligent bed systems, such as VersaCare and TotalCare (pictured), will be integrated with the Cerner Millennium system. The relationship is expected to expand to integrate the Cerner CareAware architecture with other Hill-Rom IT solutions such as nurse call, asset management, and NaviCare patient flow.

Hospira Inc. (Lake Forest, IL) and InnerWireless Inc. (Richardson, TX) announced a new technology integration partnership at this year's HIMSS conference and exhibition. Under the arrangement, the companies have integrated Hospira MedNet with InnerWireless's PanGo product line, which provides a layer of location-aware intelligence on top of an underlying location infrastructure. Hospira MedNet interfaces a hospital's drug library with the company's infusion devices to enhance patient safety and best clinical practices, as well as monitor and provide reports at the device, group, or systemwide levels. By integrating Hospira MedNet with PanGo, infusion pumps can be tracked and located directly in Hospira MedNet without launching additional applications, thus enabling hospitals to effectively manage assets.

Early this year, device networking technology provider Lantronix Inc. (Irvine, CA) released a highly secure embedded 802.11 b/g networking module, the MatchPort b/g Pro. The latest addition to the MatchPort family of wired and wireless networking modules, MatchPort b/g Pro is a networking solution for data-sensitive, regulatory, and IT-driven applications that demand safe and reliable technology, such as medical records, financial transactions, and government data. In addition, MatchPort b/g Pro features SmartRoam technology, which provides users a higher degree of reliability and mobility when moving throughout a building, warehouse, or across campuswide networks.

Siemens Healthcare (Malvern, PA) has released a system that enables hospital personnel to monitor the location of medical devices in real time. Siemens' Asset Management and Tracking (AMT) system provides information on the location of medical devices via a Web portal or pocket PC. Each product in the facility is tagged with an Ekahau WiFi real-time location system tag. When coupled with the Archibus infrastructure and facilities management solution, information about a product's location can be transmitted through a WiFi network to the Archibus executive information system, creating a complete view of the facility's assets and equipment while maintaining historical use records.

The SmartAdapter by iSirona LLC (Panama City, FL) supports the increasing mobility of care by connecting any mobile, stationary, or nonnetworked medical device through the healthcare organization's existing 802.11 wireless network. The SmartAdapter queues data when a device is out of network range or during network outages, guaranteeing delivery of device data to clinical information systems.

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