Improving connectivity in care

The provider of aged and community care services has selected HP Networking solutions to assist in the process.

The new HP infrastructure aims to improve the operations of BaptistCare to become a more attractive and modern workplace, providing a higher level of resident care and attracting high quality healthcare staff.

In a statement, HP claims recruiting and retaining registered nurses and carers to work in aged care is a national issue and one that is making the industry very competitive. To help address this, BaptistCare sought to improve its working environment by using technology to centralise information and simplify administrative processes.

This will see carers spending less time on administrative tasks, allowing more time interacting with residents and increasing productivity. Ultimately, staff can focus on providing quality care, in addition to helping BaptistCare retain and attract new staff.

“Providing five star care and recruiting good talent is an ongoing issue for our industry, so BaptistCare decided to tackle this head-on in our new facilities,” says George Lymbers, BaptistCare's chief information officer.

“After a competitive process, we chose HP due to the team’s ability to design a bespoke solution for us with a Limited Lifetime Warranty, plus HP’s breadth of expertise, functionality and flexibility. HP’s networking solution will help make us an employer of choice and deliver care that residents and their families can trust now and into the future.”

The infrastructure will deliver gigabit mobile connectivity to 4000 employees and 1800 residents. As a result, a centralised management system will be developed, with information and processes streamlined across all sites so staff can focus on giving patients the best level of care possible.

This will include a voice management system, allowing the nearest carer or medical professional to quickly respond to a resident by clicking a badge worn around their necks; an integrated finance system; a business management system, including refrigeration, air conditioning, security and fire control; and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) services, including telephony.

High-speed WiFi network access will also be available across the three sites, In addition, there are plans for a wearable technology pilot, to help staff track residents’ wellbeing.

As these care facilities are built to be lived in for at least 40 years, this solution has also been designed to be future proofed, with long lasting and flexible technology to meet evolving needs for both residents and staff.

The upgrade to HP’s infrastructure and services has also delivered an immediate cost saving of 53% and is expected to achieve a long term saving of nearly 80% over five years. In addition, HP Networking’s industry leading best practices means the switching has no licencing agreements and associated expenses, therefore reducing red tape and cutting associated costs for BaptistCare.

“Quality aged care providers, like BaptistCare, are facing increasing pressure to offer residents and staff the best quality care in the latest facilities, and they are turning to technology to do this,” says Alan Hyde, vice president and general manager of HP Enterprise Group, HP South Pacific.

“HP’s innovative approach to networking architecture will increase connectivity and greatly simplify the organisation’s systems and processes, to achieve a more competitive offering for staff and residents,” he says.

The first site in Point Clare on the NSW Central Coast will be completed in stages, with the first stage finalised this year and the other stages finalised in 2016. The Griffith site in ACT opens in mid-2015, followed by the Kellyville site in the next 18 months.