Klinikum Region Hannover (KRH) has commissioned Siemens Healthineers to install infection control system (ICS) at the Klinikum Siloah hospital. The ICS aims to effectively tackle nosocomial infections and increase patient and employee safety. The systems detect and record potential pathogen sources and trigger automated processes to take the right measures at the right time. Given the high costs and the mortality rate caused by nosocomial infections in Germany and the European Union, introducing the ICS is a crucial step toward improving hospital hygiene and reducing the strain on the healthcare system. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) estimates that there were around 600,000 nosocomial infections in Germany in 2019, leading to around 20,000 deaths. In 2021, around 5,000,000 people worldwide died due to and with infections caused by multi-resistant germs; these make up a large proportion of nosocomial infections. The World Health Organization (WHO) expects this number to double by 2050.
ICS is a cloud-based solution, compliant with data protection regulations. It enables the causes of infection sites to be identified rapidly, reduces personnel absences, and provides efficient contact tracing, thereby increasing patient safety. The intelligent navigation solution allows employees, patients and visitors to avoid marked zones and head straight for "points of interest." This mobile navigation application helps patients and visitors to find their way more easily and reach their destination on time, minimizing delays in operating theaters, radiology, and cardiology, for example.
Siemens Healthineers developed the solution concept in close collaboration with experts from KRH, building upon a long-term partnership involving scientific project support. The ICS solution works with various hardware and software components, some of which were sourced from partner companies. ICS is based on RealTime Location Solution (RTLS) architecture that uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 5.0 and RFID technology to enable people and objects to be located and contacts to be documented.
The Infection Control Team (ICT) at KRH Klinikum Siloah plays a central role in the ICS solution by monitoring suspected cases and confirmed infections and initiating appropriate measures. The ICS solution also supports the optimization of work processes and offers extensive data analyses to improve transparency, quality, and safety at the hospital.
Successful implementation of the ICS solution requires targeted installation of the infrastructure, a carefully designed implementation phase, and intensive change management. Siemens Healthineers acts as a holistic partner, supporting KRH Klinikum Siloah during consulting, project planning, and implementation. Siemens Healthineers also supports continuous monitoring of the occurrence of infection and advises on workflow optimization. KRH Klinikum Siloah has 564 beds, 12 specialist departments, and provides care for more than 24,000 inpatients every year. The introduction of the ICS solution at KRH Klinikum Siloah is a flagship project for the hospital. Once the implementation phase is successfully completed, KRH will consider rolling out the system to further sites. KRH GmbH currently operates facilities at ten locations in the Hannover region in addition to KRH Klinikum Siloah. These are KRH Klinikum Agnes Karll in Laatzen, KRH Klinikum in Lehrte, KRH Klinikum Nordstadt, KRH Psychiatrie in Langenhagen, KRH Klinikum in Großburgwedel, KRH Klinikum in Neustadt am Rübenberge, KRH Klinikum Robert Koch in Gehrden, KRH Geriatrie in Langenhagen, and KRH Psychiatrie in Wunstorf.
About KRH Klinikum Region Hannover
KRH Klinikum Region Hannover provides local medical and nursing care, high-quality treatment as well as diagnostics and therapy from a single source. A municipal company, it operates 10 hospitals in the city and region of Hannover with around 3,200 beds and 8,000 employees in total. Every year, the company provides care for approximately 131,000 inpatients and 180,000 outpatients. Making up 40 percent of hospital care, it is the region’s leading hospital company.
About Siemens Healthineers 2025
Siemens Healthineers pioneers breakthroughs in healthcare. For everyone. Everywhere. Sustainably. The company is a global provider of healthcare equipment, solutions and services, with activities in more than 180 countries and direct representation in more than 70. The group comprises Siemens Healthineers AG, listed as SHL in Frankfurt, Germany, and its subsidiaries. As a leading medical technology company, Siemens Healthineers is committed to improving access to healthcare for underserved communities worldwide and is striving to overcome the most threatening diseases. The company is principally active in the areas of imaging, diagnostics, cancer care and minimally invasive therapies, augmented by digital technology and artificial intelligence. In fiscal 2024, which ended on September 30, 2024, Siemens Healthineers had approximately 72,000 employees worldwide and generated revenue of around €22.4 billion.