Legrand has teamed up with Siemens Healthineers to help expand access to vital patient care as the healthcare industry faces a critical staffing shortage.

In the United States, there is a radiographer staffing shortage of nearly 16%, which translates to longer wait times for MRI, CT and other medical imaging scans, as well as delayed diagnoses. The partnership between Legrand and Siemens Healthineers takes a little-known hardware device and transforms it into a critical lifesaving tool to help alleviate the shortfall.

It involves linking KVM-over-IP (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) switches from Raritan, a brand of Legrand, to third-party scanners with the syngo Virtual Cockpit software solution from Siemens Healthineers. This allows remote technologists to seamlessly and securely operate multiple scanners from different vendors at a distance, from one central location.

As a result of this partnership, healthcare providers are able to accelerate diagnoses, expand expert care to rural and community hospitals, and maximize resources, including multi-million-dollar imaging fleets and scarce expert staff.

“KVM technology has historically been used in healthcare settings such as IT rooms and nurse stations – wherever remote patient monitoring has been needed,” says Paul Mott, Product Management Director for Legrand. “Now, we’re extending the reach of that expert medical care, utilizing technology to tackle the rising shortages of medical imaging technologists head-on. Our KVM technology is a bridge between a patient in need and a specialist who can help, regardless of geography. Together with Siemens Healthineers, we’re improving patient outcomes and supporting our frontline healthcare heroes.”

Read the full announcement here.