Carstens, Inc. has launched a new line of WALLAroo® wall-mounted workstations with powerful ISONAS™ access control technology. The system allows an authorised user to open locked cabinets and other access points throughout a facility with a single swipe card.
WALLAroo® with ISONAS for enhanced patient experience
“Together, Carstens and ISONAS™ are revolutionising access control in the healthcare environment,” said John Pierson, Carstens’ senior director of sales and marketing. “WALLAroo® with ISONAS™ puts secure medication distribution, critical supply storage and patient data at the point of care with the ease of one swipe card…resulting in an enhanced patient experience.”
Carstens is one of the nation’s top suppliers of patient record keeping solutions—from customised charting systems to cutting-edge EHR support. The company’s industry-leading WALLAroo® workstations provide convenient and secure storage for essentials to help streamline daily activities, create workflow efficiencies, and foster a positive environment to improve interaction and enhance patient care.
ISONAS™ is the first access control company to design and manufacture a cutting-edge, IP-to-the-door solution. Using a patented PowerNet™ reader-controller, ISONAS™ delivers a proven access control solution that offers network-based, “Pure IP” technology that eliminates the need for a separate power supply, control panel and dedicated hard wiring.
Partnership with Carstens
Rob Mossman, chief executive officer at ISONAS™, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership with Carstens, which will exclusively offer the technology on medical cabinets and mobile carts.
“Carstens is an innovator in the healthcare industry, so offering products with integrated access management for enhanced safety and accuracy is a natural progression for the company,” he said. “By interconnecting all pieces of the environment, ISONAS™ technology affords Carstens’ customers the ability to help patients in a simple and cost effective fashion.”
ISONAS™ is a complete solution to securely manage an entire facility, he explained. One swipe card can control thousands of access points—doors, gates, elevators, server racks, and now WALLAroo® cabinets—all from a standard network connection. Its configurable, tiered security levels account for unlimited people, schedules and access points.
“Access control used to require dedicated wiring, a control panel and a great deal of infrastructure,” Mossman explained. “ISONAS™, on the other hand, is a one-inch-by-six-inch control panel that runs via power over Ethernet connections so no electricity or hard wiring is needed. Since it uses existing IT infrastructure, construction costs are low and disruption is minimal. It also migrates from legacy systems and supports current card technology.”
Reduced installation and integration cost
In fact, ISONAS™ costs between 30 and 40 percent less to install and integrate than its competitors. As a result, a hospital or clinic can expect a return on investment for new cabinets in a matter of months. Plus, the technology is scalable—any number of WALLAroo® wall-mounted workstations can be added to the same network at any time with no extra licensing fees or ongoing service expenses.
“A major benefit for hospitals is that ISONAS™ runs on Crystal Matrix software and integrates with Active Directory for a single source of simplified permission management,” said Pierson.
All access point permissions can be programmed and managed from a centralised location; however, data is stored locally so in the event of a power outage, the locking system continues to operate. This is vital in a healthcare setting. It also integrates with video monitoring, time management and nurse call systems.Web browser and smart phone apps are available to manage operations anytime, anywhere.
“ISONAS™ addresses end-user challenges like never before,” said Mossman.
Pierson agreed, adding: “WALLAroo® with ISONAS™ keeps medications, data, technology, equipment, and critical supplies in the right hands at all times—strengthening security throughout the entire facility.”
The system offers real-time tracking of activity per WALLAroo® and user, with ongoing history and audit reports to adhere to the chain of custody requirements of HIPAA.ISONAS™ also features AES 256 bit data encryption, has lockdown and emergency functions, and an anti-tamper alarm system.
Patented network-based PowerNet™ reader-controllers provider
Based in Boulder, Colorado, ISONAS™ provides patented network-based PowerNet™ reader-controllers that easily integrate with Windows-based software to deliver value and access control flexibility. The privately held company has installed 20,000 readers across a range of commercial and private organisations worldwide.
Carstens is an established brand within the healthcare industry. Founded more than 125 years ago, the company pioneered putting patient information at the point of care with customised record systems. Today, Carstens brings new solutions to new demands with its WALLAroo® wall-mounted workstations and WALKAroo™ mobile carts, including the versatile LinkT™.
Continues to expand EHR support products
As the healthcare industry evolves, Carstens continues to expand its line of EHR support products, offering innovative solutions for paper based record keeping as well as the integration of electronic solutions at point-of-patient care. The company has added new and improved carts and workstations for general usage, diagnostic testing, medicine dispensing, computing, and more.
Not only are Carstens’ products designed to enhance communication and increase interaction between clinicians and patients at the point of care, they also can be customised to match any facility’s specific needs. Plus, all are made in the USA at the company’s Chicago area headquarters.
