Project Spotlight: Erie County Medical Center

We believe that better patient care often starts with integrating stronger, more intuitive healthcare technology. In May of this year, Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) Corporation celebrated the opening of their institution’s new $55 million KeyBank Trauma & Emergency Department, which will double the size of the existing 40-year old facility and feature state-of-the-art technology and equipment for the region’s only Level I Adult Trauma Center. This was a project 3 years in the making and we are so proud to have been chosen as the systems integrators behind the technology! Partnered with Frey Electric, Rauland, A Division of AMETEK Inc., Biamp, Lencore, Zenitel and Aiphone, we were able to equip this expansion with life-saving solutions.

Project Details

Brandon Kirchner, one of the Field Installation Technicians on this project, reflects on the technicalicaties of the install:  

"We provided a number of systems for the new Emergency Department at ECMC to enhance communication and security within the new facility. It was an honor to be involved in a project of this scale and to contribute to a facility that will change and save many lives!

The overhead paging system in the new ED is an expansion of the Biamp Vocia system already in place throughout the ECMC campus, coupled with Rauland speakers, which allows critical information to be broadcast where needed. Several intercom systems were installed as well: a Zenitel Stentofon system allows clinical staff to communicate with patients and other staff in several isolation rooms without risk of compromising the sanitary environments; an Aiphone intercom system allows hospital security to communicate with individuals outside of the building and provide access to secure areas. A Lencore sound masking system was also deployed, which will help clinical staff to maintain focus in chaotic environments, and to maintain privacy while discussing sensitive information. Finally, the TV distribution system was expanded utilizing Blonder Tongue amps, splitters and taps, LG displays, and Peerless mounts, and includes a TV in every patient room and many other areas."

Cinzia Chadderdon, Senior Clinical Design & Implementation Specialist on the job (pictured below), shares her clinical reflections: 

"From a clinical standpoint, specifically during the COVID-19 pandemic, we were able to assist the ED with saving on PPE by limiting the number of times clinical staff had to enter a room when a patient call was triggered. By allowing staff to cancel calls from the nurse console device located at the nurse’s stations, this flexibility allows clinical staff to control room enters based on the nature/severity of the call that is being placed.

From a security perspective, we have equipped all patient rooms with a direct connection to the onsite ECMC Police team. This feature is a 1-touch button that is available directly from the Responder 5 head wall device (Enhanced Patient Station), which notifies the onsite Police team that they are requested in the ED. In addition to the call being placed, a unique color pattern is displayed on the corridor light outside of the patient room so that staff in the area is aware that a Police call was triggered, allowing staff to take any extra precautions if needed, based on their internal policies."

It Takes A Team! 

Great job to our Buffalo team who made the integrations for this expansion possible: Al Colucci, Brandon Kirchner, Brian Miller, Shawn McQuaid, Jerry Scott, Catherine Gordon, Cinzia Chadderdon, and Matt Ash.

A big thank you to Kent Frey, Russell Hamlin and Chris Bove with Frey Electric for the installation support on this project. Our partnership has truly created some outstanding results and we are thankful to be chosen on projects this caliber.  

We'd also like to thank all of the staff at Erie County Medical Center for all that they do to keep our communities healthy and safe. We look forward to continuing our partnership and providing the Western New York area with only the best in healthcare solutions. 

Site Pictures