MILWAUKEE - Johnson Controls is installing the InnerWireless® broadband distribution system and Metasys® building management system at the new University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital. The 155-bed, 242,000-square-foot hospital will open in the winter of 2005.

"The wireless and building management systems may not be visible to hospital staff, patients, and visitors, but the benefits will be felt by all," said Michael J. Crowe, vice president of technology for Johnson Controls. "These technologies are key contributors to the hospital's mission to provide the best medical care, as well as a comfortable, convenient, and positive environment for patients and their families." According to the company, the wireless system will help Comer Children's Hospital enhance patient safety and overall hospital productivity through uniform delivery of wireless signals, while the building management system will help the hospital facilities operate with efficiency and reliability.

"We chose the InnerWireless system because it is uniquely capable of delivering on our vision," said Eric B. Yablonka, vice president and chief information officer, University of Chicago Hospitals and Health System. "Specifically, we require a wireless distribution system that could make wireless work everywhere in the hospital, and we prefer to work with one company rather than several distinct vendors who wanted to build separate wireless networks."

Comer Children's Hospital plans to launch several wireless clinical applications including Voice over IP (VoIP) telephony that will be used to enhance communications for the Comer nursing staff. Nurses throughout the facility will have VoIP phones that will be integrated with the nurse call system to provide real-time alert notification. In addition, a wireless bedside admission system will allow parents to stay with their child throughout the admitting process.

Publication date: 04/04/2005