Hospital Clocks: Let’s Get Synchronized

When every second counts, buyers of hospital clock systems time and time again turn to Inova’s OnTime Ethernet clocks. Ok, so maybe there are too many puns in that opening sentence, but there are absolute truths buried in there. Take, for example, a hospital system in Indiana that needed around-the-clock support. (Ok, I’m done now) But seriously – when Reid Hospital in Richmond, Indiana purchased 450 Inova OnTime™ Ethernet clocks, they did so to fit their existing technology footprint.

Reid Hospital had previously made an investment in Cisco Power over Ethernet switches back in 2007. According to the clock purchaser, the clocks helped to justify the investment in the PoE Cisco switches.

In healthcare facilities like Reid Hospital, synchronized time is critical to daily operations, whether it’s checking on patients or delivering medications. When shift workers’ schedules are in sync, patients can count on uninterrupted care whenever they need it.

Here are some commonalities we’ve seen from hospitals that rely on OnTime for timekeeping:

• Hospitals depend on PoE devices like OnTime because they’re CE-marked for low RF emittance. Compared to wireless clocks that require A/C power or batteries, our network clocks are powered by the network itself, and don’t transmit or receive radio frequencies. This is an especially important consideration when purchasing clocks that will be located near sensitive medical equipment.
• Hospitals are the biggest buyers of our stainless steel 6-digit clocks for emergency rooms and operating rooms. Inova is the only manufacturer of a stainless steel clock that matches the décor of OR facilities. Inova OnTime is also the only clock that features three-quarter-height seconds, meaning that it’s easy to read and distinguish between full-height hours and minutes and three-quarter-height seconds.
• Hospitals love the look of our analog clocks in patient rooms because they don’t emit light, which could detract from a darkened room environment for sleeping. Because they’re synchronized to the network, doctors and nurses can trust the times shown for medication administration and other time-critical tasks.

Thanks to Inova Solutions for the article.