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News and Press Releases - Merit Network, Inc.

Strategic Resource for Health Care Organizations

By Brian Warkoczeski

January 24, 2008

With an ever-increasing number of Michigan hospitals utilizing telemedicine and web-based medical services, high-speed networking and Internet2 access are now vital for the day-to-day business of health care organizations that operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

To meet this growing demand, Merit Network has made some exciting changes that will benefit its Health Care Members and other medical organizations.

Merit Network recently created a new Health Care Outreach Coordinator position and added Patrick Klima to its staff in this new role.

Patrick Klima, who came to Merit with over six years of IT experience in health care, will serve as an expert resource for medical organizations who need assistance with high-speed networking and related services. Klima will aid health care institutions of all sizes in Michigan with finding new ways to utilize the speed and reliability of Merit Network's backbone to better serve patients and medical staff.

"The future of Health Care is founded in standards-based Health Information Exchange," Klima said. "Merit is in position to provide high-quality data infrastructure and information services needed to realize the potential of providing point of care information from disparate systems to practicing health care providers."

Over the last few years, the needs and technology requirements of health care organizations have changed. High-speed networking has now become a fundamental necessity for health care organizations. Examples of processes conducted over the network include:

Rural health organizations are now utilizing high-speed networks for patient consultation via videoconference with specialists at urban hospitals.
Organizations are using their network connections for backing up data infrastructure at remote business continuity sites.
Health Care providers require sufficient bandwidth for the transmission of Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) images between sites.
Hospitals access research provided through Internet 2 connectivity and utilize the Federal Health Information Exchange with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Public Health Information Network Messaging System (PHINMS).
Organizations participate in local or regional Health Information Exchanges and access Master Patient Indexes and web-based Continuity of Care Records.
Employees utilize their hospital's network connections for training, video conferencing, voice-over-IP (VoIP), unified messaging, and email.

In addition to more health care outreach, Merit Network is providing its Health Care Members with a greater voice in determining how Merit serves its community. The Merit Advisory Council (MAC) will soon include two representatives from Merit's Health Care membership, giving health care organizations the opportunity to provide their input on new services and feedback on technology concerns that effect the Merit Community.

Jon Nelson of North Country Community Mental Health is currently serving a three-year term on the council, and the additional health care seat will be filled during the upcoming 2008 MAC election.

Merit Network has been a leader in networking and Internet technologies for more than four decades. Merit's membership includes hospitals that currently rank among the best in the United States, such as Alpena Regional Medical Center, Borgess Health Alliance, Bronson Methodist Hospital, Detroit Medical Center, Memorial Medical Center, Mid-Michigan Medical Center, University of Michigan Medical Center, and W.A. Foote Memorial Hospital.

Many Health Care organizations in Michigan provide real-world experience to medical students who are aspiring to become doctors and nurses and conduct invaluable research that saves lives. By developing and providing advanced networking services for Health Care institutions, Merit Network is also fulfilling its mission to be the trusted technology provider for the research and education community.

Information exchange has had a significant impact on the health care industry and the way providers conduct business. Connecting to a robust, reliable high-speed backbone is now vital to medical organizations as they begin to utilize more technology and services that are dependent upon a high-speed network infrastructure. Merit Network is increasing the resources and services available to health care organizations to meet this growing demand.

"Open information exchange will improve patient care, maximize provider reimbursement and improve the provider's experience in practicing medicine," Klima said. "These are exciting times, and I'm looking forward to working with Merit's Health Care Members."

For additional information about Merit Network's Health Care Services, please see: http://www.merit.edu/members/healthcare/

For press/media contact:

Elwood Downing
Merit Network, Inc.
Phone: (734)527-5702
Email:

Go to the Merit Network News Archive.