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