Jun 22, 2006

Buffalo Grove, Ill., Jun 22, 2006

Continuing a decade-long relationship, McCune-Brooks Hospital has chosen Siemens Building Technologies, Inc. to help create the next generation of healthcare facility by delivering a tightly integrated, multi-million dollar package of building automation and communications technologies for its new digital hospital. Currently under construction, McCune-Brooks Hospital broke ground for the new facility in a ceremony held last year.

McCune-Brooks Hospital, located in Carthage, Mo. has a long tradition for providing compassionate, quality healthcare to the communities it serves. To continue this legacy and meet the future needs of healthcare in the region, hospital administrators commissioned the design of a new $43 million-plus facility and tapped Siemens to be the sole-source technology supplier.

Siemens is working closely with JE Dunn Construction Co., a leader in healthcare construction throughout the U.S. "JE Dunn and Siemens have a great working relationship on many projects across the country. As a general contractor, being able to offer our clients a technology solution that not only allows McCune-Brooks to catapult into the future, but also accomplishes this for the same tight construction dollar is key." says Dave Barber PE, vice president -Mechanical/Electrical at JE Dunn.

Siemens will implement its design build support process that guides the integration of all aspects of its technological infrastructure to ensure McCune-Brooks achieves the operating efficiencies, higher quality care and ultimately, the better patient outcomes it's seeking with the new facility.

According to Price Waterhouse Coopers' treatise Reactive to Adaptive, Transforming Hospitals with Digital Technology, the digital hospital goes beyond advanced clinical systems and includes "Significant integration between information technologies and medical technologies, such as patient beds, surgical equipment, nurse call and communications systems, hospital lighting systems, mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), pagers, and heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems - devices that act as both input and output instruments."

"We selected Siemens to work with our construction design team," said McCune-Brooks CEO Robert Copeland, "because they've listened carefully over the years and are intimately aware of our mission and reputation for delivering high quality and compassionate healthcare. Siemens experience delivering superior healthcare environments is well known and we are confident that our new facility will be no different, able to meet all our patient comfort and safety, staff efficiency and budgetary requirements."

At the heart of the McCune-Brooks digital hospital is Siemens APOGEE® Building Automation System which provides integrated control of the hospital's HVAC systems, indoor air quality, fire alarm system, CCTV and security system, chillers, energy usage and other critical alarm systems.

The platform provides integrated control from designated workstations onsite as well as remotely via the internet. Optimum functionality and ease of operation are accomplished through common visualization at the operator workstation(s), both on site and remotely via the Internet. The general overview of the entire hospital facilitates faster interventions, the facility manager can take action and the building's efficiency can be increased. A proven, integrated system cuts investments owing to better reliability and a smaller number of potential sources of defect. New functionalities become available since an integrated system allows interactions between different sections of the plant.

To align with McCune-Brooks' budget, Siemens is implementing a core system that is essentially future proof, that is, ready to accommodate emerging technologies as they become available. Over the long term that means McCune-Brooks can expand its facilities and technical capabilities while preserving its original technology/infrastructure investments.

The mission of McCune-Brooks Hospital is to provide quality primary care and be responsive to the needs of the people of Carthage and the surrounding communities while promoting wellness and disease prevention. McCune Brooks Hospital serves patients primarily from the counties of Jasper, Newton, Barton, Greene, and Lawrence. The medical staff includes family practice physicians, surgeons, and other specialists.

About Siemens Building Technologies

As a leading provider of building controls, fire safety and security system solutions, Siemens Building Technologies, Inc., makes buildings comfortable, safe, productive and less costly to operate. With U.S. headquarters in Buffalo Grove, Ill., Siemens Building Technologies employs 7,200 people and provides a full range of services and solutions from more than 100 locations coast-to-coast. Worldwide, the company has 28,000 employees and operates in more than 42 countries. For more information on Siemens Building Technologies, visit: www.siemens.com

Media Relations Manager Steven Kuehn
Tel.: 847-941-6047
Steve.Kuehn@Siemens.com
Public Relations Manager
Siemens Build. Techn.