Cultural, economic, demographic and other forces have pushed healthcare into the forefront of societal concerns. Our aging population’s healthcare needs will increase exponentially in years to come, at the same time that the methods used to both provide care and maintain records of that care make technological leaps in advancement. With healthcare established as a front-of-mind concern in our culture, and the means of providing that care growing ever-more technical in nature, the information systems used in all spheres of healthcare provision are paramount.

Presentation 1: TIA-1179 - The Healthcare Cabling Standards
In a healthcare environment such as a hospital or doctor’s office, a “workstation” is far different from that in a commercial building. The Telecommunications Industry Association recently published the TIA-1179 Healthcare Facility Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard, which specifies system-layout recommendations for spaces ranging from patient rooms to nurses’ stations. This presentation provides an overview of TIA-1179, including key takeaways for professionals who design and install structured cabling systems in healthcare facilities.

Presentation 2: Wireless Systems for Healthcare Environments
The strategic design of wireless systems within healthcare environments is an important aspect of a facility’s overall connectivity plan. The surging use of wireless communication devices by healthcare professionals requires access virtually everywhere, yet for wireless systems, flooding a facility with access points is not an efficient or effective method. At the same time, a well-planned wireless strategy will consider the needs of patients and the public as well as medical staff. This presentation will provide some best-practice approaches to equipping medical environments with secure and plentiful wireless access.

Presentation 3: Bandwidth Requirements and Environmental Realities of Healthcare Facilities
The TIA-1179 standard makes recommendations for the performance level of cabling systems to be installed in healthcare facilities. This presentation looks deeper into the considerations that network planners and designers should make when specifying cabling types for healthcare. It weighs the benefits and drawbacks of different media types as they relate specifically to healthcare environments, paying specific attention to the bandwidth demands generated in healthcare facilities. It also examines what goes on in the physical environments of healthcare facilities, and how those environmental characteristics can influence a user’s choice of cabling media.

This webcast produced by Cabling Installation & Maintenance examines the topic of healthcare from the standpoint of information-technology networks and structured cabling systems.

Scott D. Thompson Engineering Director and a Co-founder Oberon, Inc.
Charlie Bogolawski, RCDD, CDT Director of Technical Sales Network Solutions, Leviton
Todd Harpel, RCDD Director of Marketing and Product Management Berk-Tek

For 50 years, Berk-Tek has been a leading manufacturer of more than 100 different network copper and fiber optic cable products. The company has led in the development of high-performance and enhanced fiber optic and UTP cables designed to transport high-speed data and voice transmissions. Berk-Tek has major manufacturing facilities in New Holland, PA, Fuquay-Varina, NC and Elm City, NC. For more information, visit www.berktek.com.

Oberon is a leading designer and manufacturer of in-building wireless voice and data network infrastructure products, and a recognized provider of services for wireless network design. Oberon's wireless Local Area Networking (LAN) products and services have assisted hundreds of computer system integrators, communications network designers/installers, and enterprise end-users deploy cost effective, easy to install, reliable wireless networks. Oberon's products are designed by experts with exceptional in-the-field, wireless LAN industry experience.

NextLAN cabling systems (www.NextLANSystems.com) are engineered and manufactured by industry leaders Superior Essex and Leviton. Healthcare systems trust NextLAN’s Copper and Optical Fiber systems to maintain the highest level of network availability and reliability so healthcare providers can quickly access and transmit massive streams of essential patient information, diagnostic imaging and more at the touch of a button. Healthcare systems rest assure that their qualifying NextLAN installations are supported by the comprehensive NextLAN Lifetime Warranty, which covers the full channel and has a single point of contact. And, qualifying NextLAN installations receive the full benefits of the Superior Essex Campus Warranty, which offers a 20-year warranty on all Outside Plant (OSP) Copper and Optical Fiber cables and 20-year warranty on all voice-grade inside cables within the campus project.