Air Liquide Optimizes Hospital Gas Monitoring with CIMON SCADA

Problem

The project faced several key challenges during implementation. One major issue was the limitation in remote troubleshooting. Since the Medvision SCADA support team was based in the United States, the time zone difference caused delays in communication and hindered timely issue resolution. Additionally, strict hospital cybersecurity protocols imposed restrictions on remote access. The hospital’s PCs were secured with hardened settings, meaning all troubleshooting efforts had to be conducted onsite. This significantly slowed down the resolution process. Finally, achieving system stability proved difficult. The Medvision SCADA system required several months of ongoing troubleshooting to ensure reliable performance, which prolonged project timelines and increased operational complexity.

Solution 

To overcome these challenges, Air Liquide integrated CIMON’s SCADA system, UltimateAccess Web 1.0, as the primary monitoring platform for the hospital’s medical gas infrastructure. This system featured an intuitive web-based interface and provided real-time alerts allowing the ICC team to detect and respond immediately to potential system failures. 

With 24/7 live monitoring, the team could track gas pressure levels and identify plant faults or emergency conditions without delay. The system enabled quick responses to cylinder changes and gas system recalibrations, improving the overall responsiveness and reliability of the operation. 

Troubleshooting was also significantly enhanced by combining virtual assistance with necessary on-site support, helping to resolve issues faster despite on-site access limitations. Moreover, CIMON offered a reasonably priced SCADA solution and free virtual training, contributing to long-term cost savings and improved system oversight.

Results

The integration of CIMON's SCADA, UltimateAccess Web 1.0, into the Medvision system brought substantial improvements across multiple areas. After a prolonged troubleshooting period, the SCADA system achieved stable performance, enabling smooth and uninterrupted monitoring of the hospital’s medical gas supply network. This improvement in system efficiency allowed for reliable operations across all critical zones within the facility.

Patient safety was also notably enhanced. With live monitoring in place, the risk of mechanical failures was minimized, ensuring a continuous and dependable supply of oxygen and other essential medical gases for patient care.

Furthermore, by utilizing CIMON’s free training and software, Air Liquide helped Woodlands Health Campus reduce operational costs, saving an estimated $12,000 annually on upgrades and maintenance. The full project from planning through implementation was completed within three years, ultimately exceeding the hospital’s expectations for system reliability and performance.

Conclusion

CIMON played a pivotal role in the successful deployment of the medical gas monitoring system at Woodlands Health Campus. By providing a reliable, cost-effective SCADA solution with 24/7 monitoring capabilities, CIMON enabled Air Liquide to overcome on-site access restrictions, minimize troubleshooting delays, and meet the hospital’s strict reliability requirements. The system’s intuitive interface, real-time alerts, and responsive support not only optimized system management but also ensured continuous patient care. CIMON’s flexible support and affordable pricing helped reduce long-term operational costs, reinforcing its value as a trusted technology partner in critical healthcare infrastructure.