Today new medical advances in the healthcare industry are dramatically changing the way care is provided to patients. At the same time, healthcare organizations are under pressure to cut costs, increase productivity and improve patient care. Connected healthcare applications, including electronic health records, that address these issues and streamline information and communications at the point of care are critical. These applications require a network infrastructure that is “medical grade” to satisfy the requirements of patients and the highly specialized professionals who rely on them.

The Cisco® Medical-Grade Network provides a foundation for healthcare organizations to enable a wide variety of applications. Built on industry best practices and standards, the Cisco Medical-Grade Network provides the underlying architecture designed to meet the specific needs of health care.

• Utilizes intelligence to triage information, delivering the right information to the right people at the right time;
• Integrates vital equipment and devices into a converged infrastructure, streamlining communications and care;
• Protects with self-defending network security; and
• Connects people and information in real time regardless of location or device, creating efficiencies and responsiveness.

Solutions

Managing a clinical environment today involves paper — lots of it. Clinical information stored in paper charts is difficult to access, takes up costly space dedicated to chart storage and can impact quality of care. Connected Electronic Health Records provides effective distribution of information to caregivers at the point of care to support higher-quality care with increased efficiency. Physician productivity and clinical efficiency can be improved by automating common activities including prescribing, capturing charges, dictating, ordering labs, viewing results, providing patient education and taking clinical notes over the network. Clinicians have access to patient charts and medical histories without having to search files or wait for chart pulls. Connected electronic health records over secure wireless or the Internet provide remote access to medical records from satellite sites, or even from home.

In many cases, the electronic health record includes images as well. E-Radiology applications implemented over the Medical- Grade Network extend the reach of diagnostic imaging capabilities for radiologists and clinicians in the hospital or at remote locations. The networked availability of images and patient records at remote locations provides for more effective consultation and faster diagnosis and treatment.

Effective communication is also critical for quality care. The Cisco Clinical Connection Suite (nurse call, patient monitoring, locationbased services, collaborative care) simplifies the process of communications and helps clinicians find what they need when they need it. The solution combines Cisco Medical-Grade Network technologies — IP Communications, Wireless Mobility, Security — with industryleading partner applications to drive faster, smarter healthcare by directing, locating and prioritizing information for clinicians and their patients, optimizing work flow increasing productivity and enhancing the patient’s experience and care.

Cisco Systems, Inc.

Founded in 1984, Cisco Systems, Inc. is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Since the company’s inception, Cisco engineers have been leaders in the development of IP-based networking technologies. This tradition of IP innovation continues with industry-leading products and solutions.