The Illinois Rural HealthNet (IRHN) has signed a construction contract with G4S Technology LLC that will facilitate the deployment of a new $21M fiber optic medical network, and allow residents of Illinois access to advanced medical care.
(PRWEB) February 01, 2012
More than 80 rural health care entities are being linked to each other and to urban medical centers, allowing the transmission of electro-cardiograms, CT scanner files, digital mammography files, and other diagnostic information that will facilitate consultation with specialists, faster medical treatment, and a reduced need to transport elderly citizens to distant hospitals.
Most of the hospitals currently working with the IRHN utilize T-1 circuits for data connectivity. T-1 circuits allow for 1.5 Mbps. The IRHN will provide a minimum of 100 Mbps upstream and downstream, and can provide 1 Gigabit/second.
The G4S Technology contract will provide construction services to connect hospitals and clinics to existing backbone fiber routes. These lateral construction builds are being deployed across the state of Illinois to provide the ‘last mile’ connection. Bob Sommerfeld, President of G4S Technology LLC, said: “G4S Technology is thrilled to be able to work with the IRHN and to be a part of constructing this network that will provide Illinois healthcare facilities the ability to access advanced medical care.”
The NIU Broadband Development Group, a university unit that specializes in planning, implementing and optimizing broadband connectivity projects for municipalities and other large organizations, first conceived the state-wide network idea.
“The IRHN network will speed the deployment of advanced medical technologies and vastly improve patient care and physician communication,” said Alan Kraus, Director of the NIU Broadband Development Group.
Almost three years in the planning, the IRHN has utilized the Broadband Development Group to handle the functions necessary to make the project a reality.
Funding for the initial network of more than 80 locations is being provided primarily by the Federal Communications Commission, through its Rural Health Care Pilot Program.
Via the pilot program, 85 percent of the initial cost--$21 million--is being used to link rural health care facilities with fiber optic cable and point-to-point wireless. The IRHN is providing the required 15 percent match of $3 million, generously provided by the State of Illinois.
About Illinois Rural HealthNet
The Illinois Rural HealthNet is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the management of a statewide communications network exclusively for the use of health care providers, which can include hospitals, health clinics, mental health clinics, educational institutions, and medical specialists. Funded in part by the Rural Health Care Pilot Program of the Federal Communications Commission, the IRHN provides the high-speed connection that is necessary to improve access to medical applications for rural hospitals and clinics.
The Board of Directors includes representation from Northern Illinois University, the State of Illinois, and the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network, among others. The network itself consists of fiber optic cables and services that the IRHN has contracted for via the FCC/USAC procurement process. Daily management, operations, and maintenance is handled by INOC, a world-class Network Operations Center company. The IRHN Service Level Agreement matches or exceeds those of major telecommunications carriers. For more details, visit http://www.illinoisruralhealthnet.org.
About G4S Technology LLC
G4S Technology brings innovative, flexible and cost-efficient thinking to the design, construction and maintenance of stand-alone or integrated communication networks and security systems. For nearly two decades, G4S Technology has offered commercial, industrial and governmental clients and efficient single point of contact for all their project issues. A trusted partner to customers and suppliers around the world, G4S Technology takes great pride in delivering outstanding technology, superior control and a great return on investment.
G4S Technology has deployed over two million fiber miles in more than 200 rural and metropolitan areas and completed over 1,500 electronic security systems projects in the United States, Europe, Asia, Central America and the Middle East.
Headquartered in Omaha, NE, G4S Technology is managed by executives from the telecommunications, construction and security industries. The company is a leader in providing innovative, turnkey solutions for advanced communication and security systems. For more details, visit http://www.g4stechnology.com.
About G4S
G4S is the world’s leading security solutions group, which specializes in outsourcing of business processes in sectors where security and safety risks are considered a strategic threat.G4S is the largest employer quoted on the London Stock Exchange and has an additional stock exchange listing in Copenhagen.
G4S has operations in more than 120 countries and around 640,000 employees. For more information on g4S visit http://www.g4s.com.
IRHN CONTACT:
Kathy Siebrasse, Public Relations Coordinator
(815) 901-4161
ksiebrasse(at)niu(dot)edu
G4S CONTACT:
Laura Kocher, Communications Specialist
402-233-7570
laura(dot)kocher(at)usa(dot)g4s(dot)com
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Kathy Siebrasse
Illinois Rural HealthNet
(815) 901-4161
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