Cancer Patients Benefit From Integrated Building Systems

April 15, 2012 SSI Staff

Upon their first visit to the Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center, patients are enrolled in the security system database and asked to select personal preferences for treatment rooms, including lighting, temperature, music and video imagery.

The Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center in Burbank, Calif., features integrated security and building automation systems (BAS) designed to enhance the patient experience and ensure efficient facility operations. Opened in February 2010, the 55,000-square-foot center offers diagnosis, treatment, professional counseling, support groups, pharmacy and educational resources.

For the patient, the center provides an experience rarely seen in health care. By leveraging the capabilities of the security management system and integrating radio frequency identification (RFID) and various clinical systems, the building “interacts” with the patient.

When a patient first visits the center, he or she is enrolled in the security system database and is asked to select personal preferences for treatment rooms, including lighting, temperature, music and video imagery. Then through the use of RFID badges issued to patients, the building and staff can stay two steps ahead of patients upon their return.

For example, when checking in for treatments, receptionists greet patients by name. Billing information and a full patient care record is immediately provided to health-care personnel — reducing wait time. And since the security management system is integrated with the building management system, the treatment room is automatically set to the climate control settings, lighting and other preset patient preferences to help reduce stress.

At a time when patients often feel a tremendous lack of control, this building integration helps return some sense of normalcy.

The Disney Family Cancer Center worked with Johnson Controls Inc. to assess the facility’s technology needs and design one IT backbone. Without the need for multiple networks, this design can be used by all the building automation, security, clinical and administrative systems to help reduce unnecessary duplication and infrastructure costs.

Nearly 20 different systems were integrated including access control, automation and RFID. Other integrated systems include HVAC, lighting control, nurse call, voice and data, digital video surveillance, video recording, and fire alarms.

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