Toshiba America Information Systems has introduced a nurse call system and emergency response system as part of its business communications platform for healthcare providers.

The company's Telecommunications Systems Division announced availability Wednesday of the Cornell Series 4000 Ton/Visual Nurse Call System and AURA 2.0 Emergency Response System from Cornell Communications, which can be integrated with Toshiba's Strata CIX IP business communication system. They're designed to be used by small and medium-sized healthcare facilities.

The nurse call system includes bedside stations, bath and emergency pull cords, and annunciator panels that give tone and visual notification to the nurse or caregiver in case of emergency. The emergency response system provides both wired and wireless support for the nurse call system, including alert display, notifications, and reporting. The alert display shows patient and resident information including room number, name, and how long it's been since the patient pushed the nurse call button.

When the emergency response system is integrated with the Toshiba Strata CIX VoIP system, the combined communication system can initiate a "telephone knock-off alarm," which automatically routes calls to a nurse's station telephone when a patient cannot dial a phone or has dropped it during an emergency. It also integrates with AURA 2.0 to notify the caregiver of a knock-off alarm.

The emergency response system can be integrated with the nurse-call system. Once an emergency situation is detected through wireless peripherals, the nurse call system, or knock-off alarm, the system alerts the caregiver through e-mail, pagers, or text messaging. Also, audio notifications can be sent to cell, wireless or desk phone, including Toshiba phones using the standard SIP technology. Notifications can be customized.

The reporting function generates usage reports, to help improve management of the facility for staff, patients, and families. The reporting function also shows caregiver response time, which can be used as one measure of a healthcare organizations' performance.

The emergency response system can also be integrated with some existing nurse call solutions.

The nurse call system is UL1069 listed, which is mandatory for skilled nursing facilities in many states.