AUCKLAND, New Zealand, January 31, 2006 - The New Zealand Bay of Plenty District Health Board (BOPDHB) has increased productivity and reduced operational costs through the adoption of a range of Internet Protocol (IP) technologies from Cisco Systems®, including wireless networking, IP Communications, network security and storage area networking (SAN).
The deployment of the technology follows an initial exploration into wireless access in 2002 at the Board's Tauranga hospital and surrounding grounds. The trial was a success, and since that time, the BOPDHB has rolled out a range of Cisco® technology to reduce operational costs and improve productivity.
Grant Ardern, IT Systems Manager for the BOPDHB, said; "What is excellent for us is that the system delivers both in terms of productivity and investment. BOPDHB staff have found a number of innovative ways to utilise the benefits of wireless connectivity around the hospital site and remotely. One good example is our doctors using wireless technology to access radiology and other files in the operating theatres. This potentially lessens the risk of bringing in bugs or germs on paper files or other equipment."
The BOPDHB has also worked with Cisco to deploy virtual private networking (VPN) technology to allow doctors to connect to the network from remote locations to do work. The VPN has helped doctors to make the most of their available time by prioritising logistical tasks at times that don't interfere with patient care.
The BOPDHB has also implemented Cisco IP Communications as part of its strategy to take advantage of its converged network, which allows it to provide voice, video and data on one scalable network. BOPDHB has deployed 600 Cisco IP phones, and is planning to rollout around 1000 in total. The Cisco IP Communications network will provide greater flexibility for the department's phone users through providing features which add to workforce productivity and free up time for health care staff to help patients. The BOPDHB has deployed Cisco IP Phone 7960, IP Phone 7940, IP Phone 7912 and IP Phone 7910 handsets.
The wireless local-area network (WLAN) is based on Cisco Aironet®1200 and Aironet 1300 series access point hardware and software. These access points provide both coverage within the campus and span across the local central business district, giving users highly secure access anywhere from cafés to doctors' houses. Cisco Catalyst® 3560 and Catalyst 3750 Power over Ethernet switches provide power and advanced network security features for the IP phones and access points. The BOPDHB also uses Cisco MDS Family SAN switches in its storage arrays to further take advantage of networked technologies as the level of data it has to manage continues to increase.
Cisco New Zealand country manager, David Barker said; "With the health sector being an essential component of a country's well-being, good use of quality information and communications technology can greatly assist the sector's resources to go further. Bay Of Plenty District Health Board's wireless network and VoIP communications clearly gives added impetus to productivity."
About BOPDHB
