| Gartner's Inc. independent research had shown that as | | | | networks that are flexible, fully integrated and |
| much as half of network problems in the healthcare | | | | accessible. In today's healthcare environment Ethernet |
| industry are due to an inadequate or substandard | | | | networks that are IP-based are most suitable to |
| cabling infrastructure. | | | | provide the transmission of the large quantities of |
| The network infrastructure represents the backbone | | | | healthcare related data in a rapid and accurate |
| supporting most IT functions. Today's healthcare | | | | manner. They support the many applications such as |
| centers' networks need to accommodate not only an | | | | voice, data, video, monitoring and control. |
| enormous volume of data generated by the | | | | Transmission speed and bandwidth are important |
| modernizations that technology brought to medicine but | | | | factors that determine a "high performing" network. |
| also need to comply with regulatory standards. | | | | Having a robust network infrastructure is more than a |
| Telecommunications Industry Association's (TIA's), | | | | mere necessity. In healthcare facilities a network that |
| TR-42.1 Engineering Subcommittee formed in 2004 a | | | | fails can lead to far bigger problems than poor |
| task force group with the mission of bringing | | | | network performance, it can be life threatening. |
| awareness within the healthcare industry of the | | | | Gartner Inc. research firm concludes that "The wiring |
| benefits of having a comprehensive strategy for | | | | plant is arguably the most important part of the |
| structured cabling design and installation that is unique | | | | network. Spend the time and money to ensure that |
| to this industry. Most seasoned structured cabling | | | | what is installed will be able to support the environment |
| contractors are aware that TR-42.1's developing | | | | well into the future. ..." |
| guidelines. These guidelines are meant to assure that | | | | Considering that hospitals are built to last for more than |
| telecommunications infrastructures for the health-care | | | | 50 years the cable plant needs to be built to perform |
| industry are adequate and universal. | | | | adequately for its lifecycle of about 10 years. Gartner |
| Some of the areas covered in the guidelines TR-42.1 | | | | research has shown that cabling infrastructure |
| are listed below: | | | | represents a very small percent of the IT designated |
| Voice, data, video network infrastructure cabling, (i.e. | | | | resources (around 2%-5%) yet it can account for up |
| security alerts and surveillance, CCTV, and CATV); | | | | to fifty percent of the problems. This demonstrates |
| Professional, patient and asset information systems | | | | that an incremental increase in cabling investment can |
| and tracking; | | | | lead to an exponential increase in network |
| Remote consultation/telemedicine, diagnostic imaging, | | | | performance, robustness/reliability as well as |
| digital transfer of X-rays, pharma applications; | | | | productivity and patient safety, patient safety being a |
| Mobile applications including nurse call and patient | | | | major driver of the healthcare facilities network design. |
| monitoring; | | | | Given these statistics hospitals in North America should |
| Bio-analytical systems, clinical equipment monitoring, | | | | project and plan for the total cost of ownership of the |
| lighting control; | | | | network infrastructure over its expected lifespan, |
| Fire and life safety systems, (i.e. alarms, sprinkler | | | | rather than initial installation costs as well as consider |
| systems, Master clock); | | | | hiring contractors that comply or exceed the TIA's |
| Public network; and others; | | | | TR-42.1 guidelines. |
| The cabling infrastructure is critical in designing | | | | |