INTEGRATED BUILDING TECHNOLOGY Thomas Riffel – Siemens Building Automation
Integrated technology in the hospital environment
The intelligent and centrally controlled use of state-of-the-art building technology and its holistic integration allows hospitals and care facilities to boost efficiency, security and sustainability while at the same time reducing complexity and costs.
In 2009, the average life expectancy in Switzerland was 84.4 years for women and 79.8 years for men. Fifty years ago, it was around 71 years and in 1960, the total costs for the Swiss healthcare system were 2 billion Francs, which corresponded to 4.9% of the gross domestic product (GDP). In 2008 costs had risen to 58 billion Francs, amounting to 10.7% of the GDP. These figures demonstrate that demographic change, brought about by higher life expectancy and progress in medical care, is increasing the pressure on all service providers in modern healthcare systems. These factors place even more stringent
demands on hospitals and care facilities which, in turn, creates additional responsibilities towards patients, staff, and visitors. Biomedical and communications technology, security and fire safety, air conditioning – from general zones to operating rooms requiring clean-room conditions – as well as the supply of all forms of energy must be ensured 24 hours a day. At the same time, facility operators are expected to save energy, reduce the environmental impact, and reduce costs.
Efficiency and security through integration How can patients control the lighting and temperature in their room right from their beds, raise or lower the blinds, or surf the web, watch TV, or listen to the radio from their patient terminal? How can caregivers and doctors access all relevant patient records, such as current X-ray images, at any time and from anywhere in the hospital? A large hospital can have as many as
100 different medical and building technology systems. Most of these are still monitored, operated, and managed separately. In addition, many systems use proprietary or
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Bedside touch panel terminals can give patients easy access to room controls.
industry-specific standards and protocols. However, integrated systems, which communicate with each other and offer a unified user interface for operations and management, are gaining popularity and are becoming more economically attractive as well.
The intelligent use of state-of-the-art
technologies and their holistic integration can offer an effective approach for the healthcare industry to meet growing demands. Without integrated building automation systems, that are able to combine
Thomas Riffel
Thomas Riffel is head Vertical Market Solutions and Global Head Building Technologies Life Science at Siemens Building Automation Business Unit. His current responsibility is to lead, develop and guide the Life Science business in Siemens Building Technologies worldwide.
In the past he held a variety of management positions within the Siemens Building Automation Division including product management, sales and project management for the Life Science and Healthcare markets.
Thomas is also a sought after speaker on energy efficiency topics.
all building technology infrastructure applications into a single solution so they are able to interact, it is impossible to meet all these requirements. In short, integrated intelligent infrastructure solutions improve operations, reduce complexity and costs and make it possible to significantly boost efficiency, security and sustainability.
Best care possible Intelligent management of all applications associated with the building technology infrastructure is the most effective way to
IFHE DIGEST 2013
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