Hospitals worldwide are looking for ways to become more efficient in order to reduce costs. Among various opportunities for savings, there is a strong focus on reducing energy costs and improving space- and staff efficiency. In most cases, for each of these goals a separate system is implemented. However, there is a smarter way to address these challenges which will provide even more operational efficiency.

How Smart Hospitals combine their IOT systems into one smart infrastructure?

Hospitals consume 2.5 times more energy compared to commercial offices per square meter. Optimizing energy consumption is one of the quick wins to reduce costs and positively impact CO2 footprint. In existing buildings one of the most important energy reducing measures, is to replace the lighting with energy efficient lighting. In the IoT world, more and more people find that the lighting infrastructure is ideal to place sensors. It provides power and has a high-density coverage throughout the building. So, when (existing) lighting is (re)placed, it is an ideal moment to implement IoT infrastructure in hospitals.

The utilization of many rooms or areas in hospitals is generally low, therefore making better use of the space offers additional potential for cost reduction. For hospitals to know which departments have too little and which have too much space, is essential for efficient planning. Also, when possible extensions of their facilities can be reduced this results in tremendous savings.

Optimal use of equipment is beside energy and space optimization another key driver of efficiency. On average nurses spend 72 minutes per shift looking for equipment or patients. Furthermore, the utilization of equipment is generally below 40%. This means that 60% of the equipment is at any time not in use. 10% of the equipment is lost or stolen during the life cycle. Real Time Location Services (RTLS) help staff quickly locating equipment or patients, reduce the rental and maintenance cost for equipment and at the same time making sure that the equipment is not stolen or lost.

These efficiency improvements result in lower costs for hospitals. Logically they invest in implementing solutions to achieve these costs savings. However instead of having three different systems to address energy, space and equipment costs, it is worth considering a smart approach which combines different IoT systems into one solution. One solution that addresses all mentioned efficiency use-cases and reduces installation and maintenance costs. By doing so hospitals are taking full advantage of having a #smartinfrastructure.

re you ready to embark on your #SmartHospital journey? Then read more about one of the NHS success stories!

Learn more about Smart Hospitals from Siemens and find out, why the building is part of the healing process.