Architect and Builder Magazine South Africa May/June 2015 | Page 57

• Building automation systems (access control and workforce management, IP CCTV etc) • RTLS - Real-Time Locating Systems for tracking of personnel, patients and equipment (eg. Maternity ward for tracking of infants) • PACS - Picture Archiving and Communication Systems • Mobility for Multimedia Devices (Tablets, Wireless IP Phones, Cell Phones) • IT Systems, Workstations, Data Storage etc The future for Mediclinic’s Technology Convergence Levels: 1. Infrastructure Convergence Common communication platform allows information sharing across both wired & wireless systems. This shared infrastructure allows information flow between medical equipment, systems and related applications throughout the facility. In Summary Mediclinic’s IT convergence can be planned and accomplished incrementally over time, beginning with the infrastructure foundation. CKR iT Consulting’s goal, however, was to ultimately achieve the level of convergence that best met Mediclinic’s needs, timetable and budget. The advantages of Mediclinic’s new IT converged infrastructure include: • Better accessibility of information for mobile clinicians and caregivers • Optimised information flow across functional areas • Easier installation of new patient care or facility management applications • Mitigation of duplication among communication infrastructures • Simplified command-and-control via an open network, secure and non-proprietary protocol • Lower operational and administrative costs, and lower total cost of ownership The sophisticated surgical complex has eight state-of-the-art theatres, including a heart theatre and a catheterisation laboratory 2. Network Convergence Leverages a common network and switches, allowing the co-existence and utilisation of telephone, video and data comms. This can enable typical enterprise voice/video/data systems, as well as specialised systems such as security, paging and asset tracking. 3. Data Convergence Common data formats reside on a centralised network, enabling timely, efficient sharing between applications. The goal of data convergence is to get the right information to the right people when, where and how they need it. 4. Operational Convergence The integration