Cisco Cisco Aironet 1130 AG Access Point Informationshandbuch
Customer Case Study
© 2008 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.
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Solution
To use its wireless infrastructure fully, HCMC decided to converge its IT and Biomedical
departments. “With so much RF equipment under the Biomed group’s responsibility, it made sense
to give them ownership of the wireless network,” says Joanne Sunquist, CIO at HCMC. At the time,
the hospital was using the Cisco Unified Wireless Network with 250 Cisco Aironet
departments. “With so much RF equipment under the Biomed group’s responsibility, it made sense
to give them ownership of the wireless network,” says Joanne Sunquist, CIO at HCMC. At the time,
the hospital was using the Cisco Unified Wireless Network with 250 Cisco Aironet
®
lightweight
access points, Cisco wireless service modules, and Cisco wireless LAN controllers.
After careful evaluation, the new department decided that an upgrade to 802.11n technology was
needed. “We wanted to create a wireless network that could provide the bandwidth, RF coverage,
and performance to support the next-generation clinical applications and communications systems
we planned to deploy,” says Gill. Given the stellar performance of the existing 802.11a/b/g network,
HCMC chose to continue working with Cisco for the 802.11n upgrade.
needed. “We wanted to create a wireless network that could provide the bandwidth, RF coverage,
and performance to support the next-generation clinical applications and communications systems
we planned to deploy,” says Gill. Given the stellar performance of the existing 802.11a/b/g network,
HCMC chose to continue working with Cisco for the 802.11n upgrade.
The controller-based architecture of the Cisco Unified Wireless Network made the deployment easy
and quick. “Centralized management of software upgrades and services simplified the process,
making it possible for us to deploy 250 Cisco Aironet 1250 Series Access Points and support a
range of mobile services within six months,” says Gill. The 802.11n access points were added to
the existing a/b/g access points, creating a mixed network environment.
and quick. “Centralized management of software upgrades and services simplified the process,
making it possible for us to deploy 250 Cisco Aironet 1250 Series Access Points and support a
range of mobile services within six months,” says Gill. The 802.11n access points were added to
the existing a/b/g access points, creating a mixed network environment.
The new network now supports several bandwidth-intensive mobile devices and services over one
secure unified wireless infrastructure. Voice-over-IP (VoIP) badges keep hospital nurses, clinicians,
and support staff in constant communication with each other. Handheld scanners, mobile laptops,
and tablet PCs improve the efficiency and safety of patient care by giving clinicians instant access
to electronic health records and other clinical applications. Portable ultrasound machines and EKG
carts keep patients in the convenience of their own rooms, while a wireless picture and archiving
communication system (PACS) provides clinicians with imaging files when and where they are
needed.
secure unified wireless infrastructure. Voice-over-IP (VoIP) badges keep hospital nurses, clinicians,
and support staff in constant communication with each other. Handheld scanners, mobile laptops,
and tablet PCs improve the efficiency and safety of patient care by giving clinicians instant access
to electronic health records and other clinical applications. Portable ultrasound machines and EKG
carts keep patients in the convenience of their own rooms, while a wireless picture and archiving
communication system (PACS) provides clinicians with imaging files when and where they are
needed.
“With 802.11n, all RF mobile devices—from EKG
machines to computers on wheels—transmit patient
information over the wireless network to the right
clinician.”
machines to computers on wheels—transmit patient
information over the wireless network to the right
clinician.”
—Phillip Gill, I.T./Bioelectronics Manager, Hennepin County Medical Center
Results
The Cisco Unified Wireless Network supported HCMC’s vision of an integrated IT and Biomedical
environment by improving the management efficiency of the wireless network and devices. “With
only 1.5 people on our team managing the wireless network, Cisco’s centralized architecture
maximizes our resources. It enables us to troubleshoot, upgrade, and maintain our entire mobile
services from one point rather than working with each access point individually,” says Gill. Using
the Cisco Wireless Control System (WCS), the Biomedical group can now track Wi-Fi equipment
throughout the hospital.
environment by improving the management efficiency of the wireless network and devices. “With
only 1.5 people on our team managing the wireless network, Cisco’s centralized architecture
maximizes our resources. It enables us to troubleshoot, upgrade, and maintain our entire mobile
services from one point rather than working with each access point individually,” says Gill. Using
the Cisco Wireless Control System (WCS), the Biomedical group can now track Wi-Fi equipment
throughout the hospital.
The predictability and reliability of the Cisco Unified Wireless Network helps ensure immediate
response times for patient care, as well as business continuity during emergency situations. “The
Cisco Unified Wireless Network played a crucial role for us when HCMC became the Level 1
Trauma emergency center during the Minneapolis Highway 35W bridge disaster,” says Gill. Access
points located in the outdoor areas near the hospital’s ambulance bank made it possible for
clinicians to treat patients as soon as they arrived. “Even though the local cellular network was
response times for patient care, as well as business continuity during emergency situations. “The
Cisco Unified Wireless Network played a crucial role for us when HCMC became the Level 1
Trauma emergency center during the Minneapolis Highway 35W bridge disaster,” says Gill. Access
points located in the outdoor areas near the hospital’s ambulance bank made it possible for
clinicians to treat patients as soon as they arrived. “Even though the local cellular network was