The electronic healthcare card is viewed in Germany as an opportunity for a modern healthcare system. Experts estimate that more than 500 million euros can be saved in Germany annually. Behind this number are intelligent server solutions, billions and billions of data bits, highly-developed security technology, digital hospitals, networked physicians, and above all: a focus on patients. At Medica 2006 under the title "A Holistic View with a Focus on Benefits", Siemens is presenting how these patient-based solutions look and what is now possible thanks to modern information technology.
Proven outcomes in 2006
At many interfaces within healthcare, IT solutions are helping to simplify processes, eliminate work steps, and not only improve the quality of healthcare to the benefit of the patient, but also reduce costs. While a complete solution for an electronic healthcare card has not yet been implemented throughout the Federal Republic of Germany, the overall benefits from partial solutions in hospitals and regions even today result in proven
outcomes.
For example, St. Marien Hospital in Amberg, Germany, has been using the syngo Suite from Siemens since April 2006. This IT system has already had an effect on the entire workflow of the radiology department and the hospital. Today, the hospital's physicians create 95 percent of all diagnostic reports using an automatic voice recognition system. This immediately reduces the wait time until the physicians of the wards can view the diagnostic findings. This in turn has a positive effect on the workflow within individual wards, as well as on the length of the patient's stay, as confirmed by Chief of Neurology Dr. Wolfgang BöÃenecker: "For the physicians, it is an incredible advancement if we lose almost no time between generating diagnostic findings and utilizing them on the ward."
With Soarian Integrated Care, Siemens has developed a web-based IT solution that supports an optimized flow of information and integrates new communication media into existing treatment processes and systems â across all sectors. The modular solution enables the electronic patient record, communication and teleconsultation among participants, online appointment scheduling, consent management, and much more. This has been clearly proven over the past year in Scotland, where Soarian Integrated Care is helping to manage diabetic retinopathy prevention. A complete and optimized workflow is supporting the project and within this 300.000 examinations a year on a national level.
Patient care of the future
These solutions show the potential of a powerful IT infrastructure. According to a summer 2006 study by the German Association for Information Technology,
Telecommunications, and New Media (BITKOM), the introduction of the electronic
healthcare card (eGK) in Germany will save over 500 million euros annually. Within integrated care, the electronic patient record, which will improve the cooperation between hospital physicians, general practitioners, and specialists, will play a key role. To utilize its enormous potential, it is necessary to view all facilities and processes in healthcare as a single entity. Using the example of the hospital room of the future, at Medica Siemens is showing how many of the components from its own portfolio work together as a whole â to the benefit of the patient. Electronic records, IT applications, and diagnostic imaging devices are available directly at the patient's bed. Stationary systems as well as mobile solutions offer greater ease of use and provide hospital personnel with access to all relevant patient data. The HiMed Cockpit provides the patient with access to the Internet, TV/radio, IP telephone, Video on Demand, as well as the ability to order food from the hospital menu or adjust room lights â all directly at the bed. The Mobilett XP Digital mobile radiography system is integrated into the daily
workflow via WLAN. Respiration and patient monitoring systems from Dräger Medical are integrated bedside into the ICU. This provides advantages to all involved in the treatment process: easier, uncomplicated patient rounds for physicians, reductions in time and costs for nursing documentation, and increased patient comfort thanks to media offerings directly at the patient's bed.
The 21st century patient no longer has to worry about long wait times, repeat examinations, or incorrect medication. In the ideal case, all data are stored centrally in a digital record â both by the treating hospital physician and the general practitioner. The healthcare card, soon to be introduced in Germany, is the key to all this, with the central folder at its core.
Complete provider of the future
On this basis, Siemens is presenting itself at Medica as the complete provider for hospital infrastructure. In addition to the latest innovations in the areas of prevention, diagnostics, and therapy, the booth includes communications solutions that meet the special security standards required for sensitive areas such as patient data â regardless of whether using LAN or WLAN technologies for mobile applications.
Through its solution for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, entry control, video monitoring, break-in and fire reporting, as well as alarms and evacuation, Siemens is showing how resources can be used efficiently through cost-saving facilities management. For example, by installing an energy-saving block heat and power plant from Siemens, Kusel Hospital saved so much money it was able to purchase a modern radiography system.
Fujitsu Siemens is providing solutions for the mobility and information technology that is increasingly required, from hand-held devices and tablet PCs, notebooks, and desktop PCs, to servers and storage units.
At Medica 2006, Siemens is located in Hall 10, Booth A18.
Siemens Medical Solutions 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. From imaging systems for diagnosis, to therapy equipment for treatment, to molecular medicine to hearing instruments and beyond, Siemens innovations contribute to the health and well-being of people across the globe, while improving operational efficiencies and optimizing workflow in hospitals, clinics, home health agencies, and doctors' offices. Employing approximately 36,000 people worldwide and operating in more than 130 countries, Siemens Medical Solutions reported sales of 8.23 billion EUR, orders of 9.33 billion EUR and group profit of 1,06 billion EUR for fiscal 2006 (preliminary figures). Further information can be found under: http://www.siemens.com/medical