Healthcare
Network Solutions for the Healthcare Sector
Behind front-line healthcare practitioners is a team of network managers, engineers, and technicians who are tasked with delivering the infrastructure which supports critical medical instrumentation and communications. High availability, high security, high performance, and high mobility are essential to help practitioners deliver quality patient care, while maintaining data privacy and compliance with patient information. However, the unique environment of healthcare organizations presents significant challenges for these support teams:
1. Remote troubleshooting in a highly distributed network
2. The need to quickly validating the network in temporary hospitals or expanded ICU wards
3. Finger-pointing with service providers and medical instrumentation vendors
4. Ensuring WiFi network security for compliance and data privacy
5. Documentation of devices, WiFi coverage, PoE, and connection validation
Steps to success
- Equip network staff to quickly and accurately test and validate the network using standardized methods, remotely where possible
- Simple, consistent repeatable validation and documentation of network connections (wired and wireless)
- Visibility for rapid analysis of connectivity issues with shared reporting and collaboration
- Visibility of devices connected to the network and what systems they can access
- Automated storage of results and documentation in a secure repository
Proven track record of success
Memorial Hermann Health System
Challenges
- Enable field technicians to solve problems on their own, reducing escalations
- Provide more actionable information for escalated issues
- Troubleshoot complex problems through direct use or remote control
Solution
Benefits
- Field techs more empowered to solve problems on their own
- 80% reduction in escalations using LinkSprinter for rapid validation
Houston Methodist Hospital
Challenges
- Providing reliable wireless networks is crucial.
- With over 6 million square feet including (6) six remote sites, troubleshooting WiFi problems is a top priority.
Solution
- Wireless Engineers and Architects use the AirCheck™ G2
Benefits
- Tools for their first response to validate wireless signal coverage, WiFi strength, client devices
- Assistance to locate rogue access points
Major Provider in Northern California
Challenges
- Biomed team converting standard patient wards over to ICU-level due to increased demand for ICU beds due to COVID-
- Must quickly, accurately survey the data jacks for the configuration change to patient care VLAN (ICU patient telemetry cannot be on WiFi)
- Manual methods taking too long and prone to error
Solution
- LinkSprinter® and Link-Live
Benefits
- Fast, accurate data collection at the point of the data jacks automatically uploaded to Link-Live for report generation;
- Huge time savings and assured accuracy of data collected
For healthcare organizations in the United States, of the CARES Act provides funding that can be used to acquire NetAlly network test equipment.
Funding Source
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides funding to help make up a portion of the lost revenue, additional expenses, and upgrades public healthcare providers have experienced during the COVID-19 outbreak.
One of the sections of the CARES act includes $500 Million to modernize the nation’s Public Health Data Infrastructure, including public health data surveillance and infrastructure modernization efforts at the CDC, state, and local health departments.