The IT team approached this challenge with a carefully planned strategy, Nasir says, beginning with the health system’s smallest hospital. Ensuring seamless roaming between legacy and new networks was a priority at each stage, and the previous network was maintained until the new infrastructure had been rigorously tested.
“Start with small sites and test, test, test. The aim is to minimize the impact on patient care and services and to address any issues as you go along,” Nasir says.
Cross-functional collaboration with clinical, business and facilities staff was paramount to the modernization project.
“This upgrade was a strategic imperative addressing two critical needs: bolstering our cybersecurity defenses and streamlining IT management,” Nasir says. “By anticipating future technological demands, we’re not just protecting our systems more robustly. We’re freeing our IT team to focus on innovations that directly enhance patient care and operational efficiency.”
Prima CARE Experiences Better Security and Fewer Complaints
For New England-based primary and specialty care provider Prima CARE, a cybersecurity event in 2019 spurred the need for security and performance network upgrades, says Director of Operations Kevin Andrade.
He and his team first focused on replacing the legacy wired network with technology from Extreme Networks. In 2022, they continued with a deployment of a new Extreme Wi-Fi 6E network to 13 sites in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Prima CARE is a network of more than 160 providers, along with laboratory, imaging and testing facilities.
“We had lots of complaints about spotty coverage. The old Wi-Fi management software constantly failed and couldn’t show us where signal weaknesses were,” Andrade says. “It was only going to become a bigger problem as medical applications were leaning toward mobility.”
CONSIDER: How do network assessments support healthcare modernization?
The new wireless deployment took six months, starting with installing 60 new switches and upgrading to the Extreme Switching software. An Extreme tool then identified optimal access point placement for each site, Andrade adds.
The Prima CARE wireless network is segmented by business and clinical function, and each practice is further isolated on its own virtual LAN for privacy and security. The provider has more comprehensive visibility into its network.
“Since the Wi-Fi upgrade, security is much improved. We’re getting a lot fewer complaints about coverage, and cloud management services mean that our staff can oversee the network from wherever they are,” Andrade says.
For organizations considering an upgrade, Andrade highlights the need for proven experience and reliable maintenance from a vendor.
“You have to budget for support and persuade the business side of the organization that it’s important,” he says. “You’re not just buying equipment. You’re buying expertise and peace of mind.”
Novant Health Plans for the Future of Its Networking Needs
As an integrated network of medical centers and physicians’ practices at more than 800 sites in North and South Carolina, Novant Health recognizes the importance of investing in the technology, training and technical support needed to help care teams work effectively and efficiently, says Robert Hale, director of infrastructure and communications.
Novant Health recently deployed an Extreme Wi-Fi 6E network as part of that commitment. “Our Wi-Fi network modernization is one example of how we not only meet but exceed the ever-changing expectations for connectivity,” Hale says.
The driver for the move to Wi-Fi 6E was the availability of a new spectrum of frequencies, allowing Novant Health to add its most important and demanding devices and applications to an interference-free network, Hale says.
