Organization: Mathias Hospital
Location: Rheine, Germany
Employees: 1,900
Market Segment: Healthcare
Applications: Orbis Hospital Administration Program; all Microsoft applications, including scheduling through Outlook; Dacos diagnostic tools; pharmacy administration; meal ordering
3Com Systems:
The Challenge
Boasting a tradition of medical excellence since 1851, the Mathias Hospital (http://ww w.krankenhaus-rheine.de/mathias/ ) has long recognized the life-critical role communications play in serving the 18,000 patients it treats each year. Located near Düsseldorf in Rheine, Germany, the 460-bed hospital, which delivers world-class care in cardiology, gynecology, and internal medicine, among other fields, turned to a 3Com® network almost a decade ago to begin its migration from a paper-based organization to an electronically driven enterprise.
In 2003, the hospital upgraded its LAN with two 3Com Switch 4060 Gigabit switches supported by patented 3Com XRN® technology to create a fully redundant network core. For added performance, Mathias Hospital also deployed 3Com SuperStack® 3 Switch 4400 PWR and Switch 4400 10/100 edge switches at its four main nursing stations. These core and edge systems more effectively powered the hospital's healthcare and administrative applications .
Despite the improved information sharing, however, Mathias Hospital was unable to extend network connectivity to patient rooms, Operating Rooms (ORs), and its Emergency Room (ER) because of the anticipated high cost of wiring these locations. The hospital's 150 doctors and 650 nurses still had to chart patient records manually at patient bedsides in these areas and re-enter data into the system, a laborious, unproductive process. Doctors also needed hard copies of x-rays and other test results and were unable to access diagnostic applications electronically.
Why 3Com Solutions— Managed Secure Wireless Networking
To meet its needs, Mathias Hospital sought a managed wireless network solution that was standards-based, secure, cost-effective, scalable, and easy-to-manage. In consultation with its VAR, Ketchum ( www.ketchum.de), the hospital reviewed a number of wireless solutions from competing vendors. Mathias Hospital was immediately impressed with the affordability and high performance of the standards-based 3Com Wireless LAN Mobility System, which combines the 3Com Wireless LAN Controller WX4400 switch and the versatile, yet powerful 3Com Wireless LAN Managed Access Point 2750 access points.
"We have partnered with 3Com for almost a decade and have always been extremely pleased with their products and service," explained Antonius Epping, network manager, Mathias Hospital . "And in wireless networking, 3Com is once again leading the way. 3Com had the best managed, secure wireless solution on the market—and at the best price. Moreover, 3Com sent a representative to answer all our questions on site and assist in deployment."
With their 3Com Wireless LAN Mobility System, Mathias Hospital now has the networking connectivity it needs to administer state-of-the-art medical treatment at point-of-care throughout the entire hospital. The 3Com Managed Access Points (MAPs) provide 802.11a and 802.11 b/g connectivity of 11 megabits per second (Mbps) and 54 Mbps to patient rooms, ORs, and ERs.
Now, instead of manually charting patients at bedsides and transcribing data into the network, doctors and nurses use Microsoft Windows XP embedded terminal servers on rolling carts at point-of-care to directly input orders, saving time and reducing the margin for human error. In ERs and ORs, doctors have immediate access to up-to-the-minute Dacos diagnostic tools that can save lives. "The ability to access clinical data quickly, reliably, and securely at point-of-care can be a matter of life and death," confirmed Epping, "and with our advanced 3Com wireless technology, we can guarantee our medical staff has accurate access to the information they need to best address every emergency."
Since laws in Germany, as in the U.S., require that healthcare information remain strictly confidential, Mathias Hospital relies on the 3Com Wireless LAN Mobility System's advanced security features. MAP encryption allows for local traffic encryption and distributes encryption processing across the wireless LAN (WLAN). Radio Frequency (RF) scans identify and isolate rogue access points or other possible infiltrators. Moreover, 3Com uses innovative Identity-Based Networking to deliver network services based on user identity instead of ports or devices, further ensuring the privacy of Mathias Hospital 's medical records.
For additional security, Mathias Hospital segregates its WLAN by assigning different Server Set Identifiers (SSIDs), creating, in effect, separate WLANs for the hospital administration, wireless medical devices, and patient access to their own private records.
Mathias Hospital 's IT staff deploys the 3Com Wireless LAN Controller WX4400 system to effortlessly manage their 3Com WLAN MAPs from anywhere on the network. Authorized users determine MAP configuration and optimize RF coverage and performance. With a few keystrokes, they change parameters for multiple MAPs, eliminating the time-consuming job of separately configuring each device, thus lowering the cost of ownership. In addition, the WLAN Controller WX4400 is able to manage, via one central device, up to 96 access points, giving Mathias Hospital the scalability it requires to provide total connectivity throughout the hospital.
Benefits Summary
With the 3Com Wireless LAN Mobility System, Mathias Hospital is optimizing patient care and reducing ownership costs, while increasing doctors' and nurses' productivity and advancing its reputation as a leader in high-tech medical care.
"Our 3Com wireless solution allowed us to leverage the power of our Gigabit 3Com LAN and deliver a host of cutting-edge innovations that streamline operations and provide a more pleasant stay for our inpatients," said Epping.
For example, using the wireless terminal servers, doctors can instantly retrieve x-rays at point-of-care or schedule additional procedures, such as blood work or MRIs, using the Orbis Hospital Administration program. Using its Baxter pharmaceutical application, hospital physicians prescribe medications at patients' bedsides. The prescription is transmitted over the WLAN to the pharmacy, where it is automatically filled and labeled, ensuring complete accuracy and minimal human intervention. Using a WLAN-driven menu service, patients can even order their meals electronically, and the program automatically controls dietary restrictions, preventing diabetics, for example, from ordering items with sugar.
"We couldn't be more pleased with the 3Com Wireless LAN Mobility System," concluded Epping. "For a relatively modest investment that is more than offset by the cost of deploying a wired network, we automated operations and cut costs. Most importantly, we are delivering the best possible care to our patients—and that can save lives."
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