A technological leap in the care sector – Gigaset's DECT multicell system embedded in a holistic IT solution
A shortage of skilled workers, rising costs and demographic change, which is leading to a steady increase in the proportion of chronically ill people and those in need of care – digitisation offers a wide range of solutions to the challenges facing the healthcare and nursing sector. Sander Pflege GmbH, headquartered in Emsdetten, has positioned itself for the future with a comprehensive technology package that can also be used in other facilities: DECT handsets from Gigaset, a hosted telephone system, IP telephony and interfaces to the new alarm server and the existing nurse call system provide greater security for residents and relieve the burden on nursing staff – including secure Wi-Fi for web-based communication with relatives. A prime example of interdisciplinary cooperation between the five partners Novalink, Peoplefone, Starface, Sophos and Gigaset under the direction of microPLAN IT-Systemhaus GmbH. And proof of the high compatibility of the hardware used.
Company profile: professional and loving care with tradition
Sander Pflege GmbH includes nine inpatient facilities, seven outpatient services, eleven day care centres, 19 units of ‘assisted living’ and 14 residential communities. These extend over 20 locations from the island of Langeoog via Osnabrück to Münster. The company's headquarters are in Emsdetten in North Rhine-Westphalia. There, the Haus Lindengrund has been providing inpatient care for the elderly for 35 years. The facility is a place where 57 residents can feel at home. Three small living areas, cosy kitchen-diners, lots of little niches with pieces of furniture and the light-flooded courtyard provide space for encounters and privacy. Haus Lindengrund, with its family environment for residents and nursing staff, now benefits from the latest IT technology.
The initial situation: decentralised structures and outdated hardware
When help is needed, seconds can count. That's why the employees of Sander Pflege GmbH are always on call – no matter where they are in the building and what they are doing. ‘We not only provide good and professional care – we are particularly keen to offer family-centred, loving care,’ explains Andrea Brackemeyer, home manager/head of nursing at Sander Pflege. ’To guarantee the safety and well-being of our residents, we urgently needed to renew our communication infrastructure.’
The individual Sander Pflege GmbH facilities were to be equipped with alarm servers and a new telecommunications solution that was compatible with the existing nurse call system. The previous telephone system with the DECT system had already been discontinued by the manufacturer, and spare parts were no longer available. A new central telephone system was also to be implemented for all buildings.
‘For us, the solution's absolute reliability was a fundamental point. After all, when it comes down to it, the residents‘ lives depend on it,’ says Markus Timmermann from microPLAN IT-Systemhaus GmbH. ‘The challenge in this project was linking the IT solutions of many different technology partners: PBX system, DECT, nurse call system, firewalls, VoIP-SIP trunks and alarm servers.’
The solution: relief in the daily care routine through the interaction of modern technologies
microPLAN has had many years of good experience with Gigaset hardware in conjunction with the Starface PBX solution. ‘Our infrastructure recommendation was therefore clear,’ says Markus Timmermann. The Novalink alarm server, the Peoplefone VoIP-SIP trunks and the Sophos firewall were added as missing pieces of the puzzle. ‘With this combination, we were able to offer our customer Sander Pflege the best solution on the market with a clear conscience.’
The existing infrastructure was replaced as part of the project. A highly compatible Starface PBX system in the microPLAN data centre now works together with the Gigaset N870 IP PRO multicell system on site. The existing nurse call system was connected to the novalink alarm server via ESPA – an open Gigaset AML interface integrates the alarm server into the DECT environment. This means that the alarms are also forwarded to the cordless Gigaset handsets via the Gigaset DECT system if the Internet connection fails. Several Gigaset SL800H PRO and R700H PRO handsets are in use.
‘We wanted a reliable alerting system that doesn't waste any time and works in all situations,’ says Frank Pohlmann from Sander Pflege GmbH. ’Everything simply has to happen quickly and reliably. And that's exactly what we've achieved through the project: our nursing staff can read and operate everything intuitively.’
The nursing staff are notified directly via their personal handset, which is integrated into the Gigaset N870 IP PRO DECT network, as soon as the call button is pressed in a room. The on-call rooms do not have to be permanently manned because the Gigaset handsets signal the call regardless of where the team members are. If the call is accepted via one of the DECT handsets, the alarm is initially paused. The nurse call only ends when a switch is mechanically operated in the room. Sander Pflege GmbH also uses smartphones for documentation, which are additionally connected to the alarm server. If a nurse does not have access to a Gigaset handset, the alarms are also displayed on the smartphone via the Novalink app.
The solution used by Sander Pflege GmbH has also been carefully thought out in the backend: Unified Communications applications such as Microsoft Teams for use in the facilities or in the home office can be easily integrated. All houses run through a provider that provides unrestricted voice channels and can map all locations on one invoice. In addition, the tariffs are freely selectable and can be added to or debited without a term. It almost goes without saying that residents can make video calls with their loved ones at home via secure WLAN.
