Pocono Medical Center Improves Patient Care with Cisco Wireless IP Telephony and Data Solution

February, 14, 2004

By Stacy Williams, News@Cisco

Traditionally, hospitals have relied on paper-based charts to share patient information. Using paper charts, however, only one caregiver at a time can view the patient's record, making it more difficult to deliver continuous, informed care. In addition, patients may be asked to provide the same information multiple times as they move through different departments within a hospital.

For voice communication within hospitals, caregivers have traditionally paged each other from centrally located, wired phones. This process, too, has limitations. Long delays might occur before a physician can answer a page, for example. Or, the physician may have difficulty determining who initiated a page.

At Pocono Medical Center, a hospital-wide Cisco wireless data and IP (Internet Protocol) telephony solution and an electronic medical records system are giving caregivers within the hospital secure access to patient information-regardless of where the caregiver is located. The converged Cisco voice and data solution also allows caregivers to use the same wireless infrastructure to consult with each other using the Cisco wireless IP Phone 7920G, enabling faster, more efficient communications.

For Pocono Medical Center, the overall result is a major improvement in the quality of care. Because physicians can obtain patients' laboratory test results and other critical data from anywhere at any time, patients receive proper treatment in a shorter period of time.

Caregivers can coordinate their efforts with ease, because each staff member has a unique telephone number and a wireless Cisco IP phone with them at all times. This is especially crucial in areas such as the emergency room, where fast communication can make a tremendous difference in the level and responsiveness of patient care.

"Our Cisco wireless environment allows caregivers throughout the facility to use portable devices to capture patient information," says Marian Moran, vice president and chief information officer for Pocono Medical Center. "Once the information is in the system, it is available simultaneously to all caregivers across the hospital. With IP telephony, staff spends less time chasing down pages and can reach each other to exchange information quickly because everyone is equipped with a Cisco wireless IP phone."

The Cisco solution is comprised of Cisco Aironet Access Points and Cisco 7920 wireless IP phones, providing comprehensive wireless data and voice over IP coverage throughout the facility. The wireless solution complements an existing Cisco traditional network. The medical center selected Cisco because of its rock-solid reliability and security.

"The Cisco solution was the best option for us because it provides uptime and security that's unmatched in the industry," says Moran. "This level of security is crucial for us, especially with the third phase of the HIPAA compliance laws coming into effect in April 2005."

With the Cisco wireless data and IP telephony solution in place, Pocono Medical Center is taking advantage of voice and data integration to roll out a number of innovative applications designed to streamline caregivers' workflow and improve patient care. In February 2005, for example, a new electronic medication administration system will go into pilot. Both patients and drugs will be bar-coded. Instant scans will verify that the right patient is being given the right drug at the right time, using the right dose and administration. "In the industry, we call this the Five Rights, and it will all be automated to help ensure patient safety," says Moran.

Once clinical applications are completed to ensure patient safety and superior care, the medical center plans to begin deploying applications to automate business processes and increase efficiency. The Cisco wireless solution is expected to be especially helpful in streamlining materials management and inventory control.

Installing the Cisco wireless solution was fast and efficient, particularly because Aironet Access Points integrate data switching and power into one unit using Power over Ethernet (PoE), instead of relying on separate power outlets and cords. Use of PoE not only sped up implementation, but also reduced cost and space requirements, a critical factor in hospital environments where space is at a premium.

Maintaining the Cisco wireless solution has been trouble-free, and accomplished without adding staff. "We increased our wireless devices and availability by about 50 percent," says Moran. "At the same time, the Cisco system has been very easy to work with, so we haven't had to increase our network administration staff."

For Pocono Medical Center, a longstanding alliance with Cisco for both traditional and wireless solutions is paying off. In 2003, Hospitals and Health Networks, a journal published by the American Hospital Association, granted Pocono Health System the "Most Wired Award" (small and rural hospitals category). While Moran appreciates the recognition, she is far more proud of the level of patient care made possible by Cisco solutions. "We're now more patient-centered, instead of being process-centered, and the Cisco technology allows us to do that," says Moran.

Stacy Williams is a freelance journalist located in Phippsburg, CO.