Leading South African hospital group, Netcare, has designed a dynamic hospital network architecture that is being rolled out at facilities throughout the group, providing different hospital divisions with dedicated connectivity, while allowing for transmission between divisional networks.
Demanding the highest standards of security and reliability while also needing value for money, Netcare selected Netgear switches and Proxim wireless access points from Duxbury Networking to be used for all deployments.
"In the hospital environment there is a diverse variety of equipment," says Flippie Coetser, Healthcare Technology Specialist for the Netcare Group. "These range from lab and infusion to patient monitoring equipment. Netcare has separated these devices into 12 categories."
Coetser says the best way to accommodate the diverse systems within the hospital is by establishing separate networks, one for each category of system. This represents a new concept in hospital networking in which Netcare is leading the way.
"By establishing a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) for each category, it is possible to exchange information between these dedicated networks using VLAN routing," he explains. "Virtual networking cuts down on costs and is a powerful way to integrate electronic information within the hospital environment."
Netcare uses Netgear FSM7326P network switches from Duxbury Networking. Coetser says these Layer 3 managed switches comply with the design specifications that require a gigabit backbone, with peripheral devices being connected at 100Mbps. Netcare chose Netgear switches, not only because they were a perfect fit for the requirements, but also because they offer high value for money and something that few vendors can claim: a lifetime warranty. Another advantage is that the FSM7326P supports power over Ethernet, which eliminates the need for power outlets for the wireless access points and greatly eases deployment.
"The Netgear switches are also simple to manage," he adds. "They provide an intuitive Web interface for configuration that saves a lot of time."
For wireless access points, Coetser says they chose the Proxim AP700 from Duxbury Networking. Key to this decision is the device's capacity to handle 16 virtual LANs, as Netcare would require 12 to be configured on the device.
All of physiological patient monitoring servers are also connected to Netgear GSM7312 switches. These are 12-port gigabit switches that offer high value for money and the highest possible Ethernet data transfer rates.
"Patient monitors are now connected wirelessly thanks to this network," affirms Coetser. "This provides hospital staff with real-time patient life-critical information, which is transmitted to a central computer in the ICU. This allows hospital staff to continuously monitor patients, even when mobile."
Third-parties are also able to deliver information directly into the network, saving time.
"Internationally, Netgear and Proxim products are frequently used in hospital environments, thanks to the security and reliability they offer," says Graham Duxbury, managing director of Duxbury Networking. "By using these devices Netcare has saved money and is now able to save lives even more effectively than was previously possible."
Thanks to industry-leading networking technology from Duxbury Networking, Netcare hospitals now enjoy the world's most advanced networking.
For more information on Netgear and Proxim products, contact Duxbury Networking on 011 351-9800 or visit www.duxbury.co.za.
Alternatively contact
Susan Moffett, Marketing Manager, Duxbury Networking.
011 351-9800
082 445 2920
smoffett@duxnet.co.za
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