Healthcare providers around the world rely on Nortel's clinical grade networking solutions to meet the requirements of a digitalized healthcare system to distribute Electronic Medical Records, retrieve PACS (Picture Archive and Communication System) medical images, and to securely connect clinicians and applications over a mobile network.

Over 15,000 healthcare organizations in the US and Canada rely on Nortel solutions. Read how the following healthcare customers are using Nortel technology to improve the patient's experience.

Basset Healthcare
Basset Healthcare*, a regional health system of four hospitals and 22 community health centers serving a 5,000 square mile region in central New York, turned to Nortel for a mobility solution that would allow healthcare providors and nursing staff real time access to the hospital's Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system.

"In choosing an equipment provider, we needed a partner that could provide a secure, stable solution enabling full wireless mobility across our main campus and regional enterprise in support of our EMR," said Kenneth Deans, Bassett Healthcare's Vice President for Information Services and CIO. "We will provide clinicians the ability to access and input critical patient information at the point of care using Tablet and Notebook PCs from any geographic location, at any time. Similarly, we will enable vital staff to respond to requests via WLAN VOIP handsets from anywhere within the enterprise. A final key driver in our consideration, was the ability to provide wireless internet access to our patients and visitors, via an easy to use guest access provisioning application and process.".

Geisinger Health System
Geisinger Health System* Geisinger Health System is an integrated physician-led health services organization serving more than two million residents throughout central and northeastern Pennsylvania. It includes a 650-member group practice, tertiary/quaternary medical centers, acute-care community hospitals, adult and pediatric trauma centers, an alcohol and chemical dependency treatment center, two research centers, 40 community practice offices, and one of the largest not-for-profit HMOs in the country.

Geisinger Health System is using Nortel's Multimedia Communication Server (MCS) 5100 to conduct meetings virtually and allow a diverse staff to work remotely while reducing operational costs. The solution enables them to provide faster and more accurate resolution to administrative and patient issues by providing staff members with the ability to locate and collaborate with key resources in real-time.

"The rich feature set of the Nortel MCS 5100 has provided much greater flexibility in our ability to conduct meetings and communicate, regardless of where our employees are, in a timely and cost-effective manner," said Gary Keefer Director of Voice Systems. "We are so pleased with the solution that we are planning to implement other applications of the MCS 5100 to further streamline our communications, not just for administrators and physicians, but for all our employees. It has provided a very effective tool that allows our staff to manage incoming and outgoing communications in new ways, which ultimately increases productivity and time to provide quality treatment for our patients."

Interior Health Authority
Interior Health Authority*, providing services to the citizens of the Southern Interior of British Columbia, is using Nortel's WLAN 2300 and SSL VPN solution to enable doctors to have immediate and remote access to PACS imaging technology.

"Thanks to Nortel, we have been able to consolidate our applications and increase the effectiveness of our staff," said Roy Southby, Director Information Technology "Prior to using Nortel's solutions, we had 1,200 doctors that did not have high speed access to our health authority network. The doctors required reliable high speed access from their offices and homes in order to access our electronic medical record and PACS information. With the Nortel solution in place, doctors now have immediate access to both and thus save valuable time in the treatment of their clients."

Sparrow Hospital
Sparrow Hospital*, Sparrow Hospital, one of the most comprehensive acute care centers in mid-Michigan, is currently using a Nortel Ethernet Routing Switch 8600 for delivery of PACS files. The hospital has also extended wireless access to not only staff, but also patients and visitors, with a solution that has the security and management capabilities to offer secure access to hospital applications and public access to the Internet.

"Working with Nortel, wireless services are helping to improve patient care by allowing medical personnel to interact with patients as data is captured and recorded," said Brian Gunnell, Chief Technology Officer, Sparrow Hospital. "Sparrow has initially begun deployment in critical care areas such as the Emergency Department. We have also deployed wireless services for public access, now offering Internet connectivity for patients, visitors, and physicians. The WLAN 2300 solution provides the security and management capabilities required for us to offer both secure access to hospital applications for staff and public access to the Internet, as needed."