User Manual

Industry Sector
Technical Article Building Technologies Division
Zug (Switzerland), March 28, 2011
Hospitals in touch with the latest trends
The intelligent and centrally controlled use of state-of-the-art building technology and its
integration allows hospitals and care facilities to boost efficiency, security, and
sustainability while reducing complexity and costs.
In 2009, the average life expectancy in Switzerland was 84.4 years for woman and 79.8 years for
men; 50 years ago, it had been about 71 years. In 1960, the total costs for the Swiss healthcare
system were 2 billion Francs, which corresponded to 4.9% of the gross domestic product; in 2008,
costs had risen to 58 billion Francs (10.7% of the GDP). Demographic change brought about by
higher life expectancy and progress in medical care is putting increasing 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 cut costs.
Better 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 has as many as a hundred different medical and building technology systems.
Most of them are still monitored, operated, and managed separately. In addition, many systems
use proprietary or industry-specific standards and protocols. However, integrated systems which
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Siemens Schweiz AG
Industry Sector - Building Technologies Division
Gubelstrasse 22, 6301 Zug, Switzerland
Public and Press Relations: Marc von Ah
Telephone: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]