Healthcare

A Vision for Connected Healthcare

Frankfurt University Hospital stands as a beacon of advanced medical care in Germany, playing a pivotal role in the nation's digital healthcare transformation. Dr. Michael von Wagner emphasizes that “we see ourselves as an active driver of the digital health revolution in Germany.” In having a long-standing partnership with Cisco spanning over two decades, the Hospital has consistently leveraged networking expertise for infrastructure modernization, including campus switching, wireless connectivity, and innovative technologies like Cisco Spaces. This collaboration forms the bedrock of the Hospital's ambitious digital healthcare strategy, aimed at addressing critical challenges in patient flow, operational efficiency, and data-driven decision-making. The Hospital recognized the urgent need to overcome inefficiencies stemming from a lack of transparency in patient movements and the difficulty in tracking vital medical equipment, which led to longer waiting times and suboptimal use of resources.

Their vision was to create an interconnected environment where people, processes, and technology work hand in hand, simplifying operations and allowing more focus on patient care and security. The hospital managed to build on their existing network infrastructure, with the latest access points using Bluetooth Low Energy connecting seamlessly with Cisco Spaces. “With the Cisco Spaces Partner Hypros we can also visualize the processes for medical staff accordingly. The whole thing is API based. The result is a system that is not only scalable, but also noticeably relieves our day-to-day hospital life and enables future innovations” says Jens Schulze

Cisco and Partner Axians: Building the Digital Foundation

To tackle these challenges, Frankfurt University Hospital, in collaboration with Cisco and partner Axians, embarked on an ambitious project. The core of the solution involved deploying robust Cisco campus switching and advanced wireless infrastructure, forming a resilient network foundation. A key innovation was the integration of Cisco Spaces, a location-based service platform, which utilized the Bluetooth Low Energy capabilities of the Hospital's latest access points. This allowed for seamless, real-time tracking of both medical devices and, critically, a pilot program for patient tracking within the cardiology department. Partner Axians provided essential IT service support, handling access point upgrades, configurations, and ongoing project needs, ensuring smooth implementation and operation. This strategic partnership enabled the Hospital to build upon its existing network infrastructure, creating a scalable system that could visualize processes for medical staff and provide crucial data for informed decision-making. “Thanks to Cisco, we've made patient paths and resources visible, easy and seamless” says Dr. Michael von Wagner.

Realizing Efficiency and Pioneering Future Innovations

The immediate impact of the implemented solutions was significant. Frankfurt University Hospital gained unprecedented visibility into patient paths and medical equipment locations, leading to improved efficiency. The robust and stable Cisco networking infrastructure ensured minimal downtime, a critical requirement for a 24/7 care environment. Prof. Dr. David M. Leistner elaborates that, “A hospital thrives on interconnection. When people, processes and technology work hand in hand, something special is being created. With Cisco, we've created an infrastructure that simplifies processes and gives space for what's important: care and security.” This foundational work is also a crucial stepping stone for the Hospital's larger EU-funded projects, including the development of a command-and-control center and digital twin solutions for patient care. The digital twin promises to enable real-time decisions, embodying the concept of "Connected Healthcare." Dr. Michael von Wagner mentions that provides “A system that works hand in hand with us and that leaves more time for the things that matter: taking care of our patients”. Looking ahead, the Hospital plans to expand patient tracking beyond cardiology to other departments and fully implement these advanced projects. By increasing efficiency through Connected Healthcare, Frankfurt University Hospital is well-positioned to respond to future challenges, such as demographic changes and increased workload, ensuring that more time can be dedicated to what matters most: taking care of patients.