Electrical equipment manu- facturer Legrand says its integrated healthcare solutions, the latest of which are nurse call systems, are designed to meet current healthcare needs and also accommodate future developments and requirements.

Legrand’s integrated healthcare solutions encompass anti- microbial systems for use in sterile environments, including hospitals, clinics, retirement establishments and laboratories.

“These healthcare systems, which focus on assisted living, hygiene and energy efficiency, include bed head trunking and automatic lighting,” says Legrand Southern Africa GM Luk Ivens.

“Legrand’s antimicrobial healthcare products are manufactured using the latest technology for optimum hygiene, the prevention of dirt accumulation and easy cleaning. To reduce the risk of transmission of nosocomial infections, all components are treated using positive silver ions, which eliminate most bacteria. There is antimicrobial treatment on more than 40 electrical functions, which integrate various commands and connectivity with the infrastructure of healthcare facilities,” he explains.

Legrand’s new nurse call systems provide nursing staff with real-time information and “absolute peace of mind,” says Ivens, adding that these nurse call units also encompass traceability software to allow hospital management to track and monitor response times of nurses.

Flexible nurse call systems consist of a nursing station console, a desk unit monitoring system and a nurse call hand-held remote control. The nurse call systems are able to adapt to all modes by which a healthcare department is organised.

The main control unit is usually installed in the nurses’ station and a secondary control unit can be used in another room, for example, a dining room, a rest area or in a corridor.

The hand-held remote control enables greater freedom of movement for patients, enabling reliable communication between the patient and staff. This includes out-of-the-ward communication, as well as communication at a distance from the nurses’ station. This unit also advises nursing staff who is calling and from where, explains Ivens.

The waterproof hand-held remote can also be integrated with television and audio require- ments, as well as lighting and shutter control, and has an ingress protection 67 rating as it is protected against dust and water.

Bus/SCS signalling and acknowledgement devices, which are installed around the door unit in hospital wards, are designed for call centralisation, acknowledgement and communication with the nursing control unit and all elements of the system. There is also a signalling forward facility to all indicators, including corridor overhead light units, door units and hand-held remote control units.

Corridor signalling devices are installed in hospital corridors above the doors.

Other Legrand components for the healthcare sector include access control and closed-circuit television security, emergency lighting and cable management, as well as systems that ensure continuous service for critical processes and the monitoring of energy savings.

These systems are designed for pristine hygiene levels, effective communication and immediate response in an emergency situation, concludes Ivens.