Ohio Hospital System Uses TWC Network to Connect Patients & Doctors

NEW YORK, November 26, 2014 /3BL Media/ – OhioHealth, a nationally-recognized, not-for-profit system of healthcare facilities based in central Ohio, is utilizing technology to connect patients with physicians. By using services from Time Warner Cable Business Class, the organization is able to remotely provide care to patients throughout the state.

While OhioHealth turns to TWCBC for a number of business solutions, including video, phone and data services, it’s TWCBC’s robust network that makes OhioHealth’s cutting-edge telemedicine program possible. TWCBC provides 100 Mbps point-to-point Ethernet Private Line (EPL) fiber circuits connecting 50 care sites, 300 Mbps Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) at their headquarters, plus up to 100 Mbps High Speed Internet Access service connecting the organization’s smaller offices. This gives OhioHealth the speed and capacity for applications such as streaming two-way audio and video.

“A patient and physician no longer have to be sitting together in the same room. A physician can provide evaluation and diagnosis through the technology that’s available today,” said Jim Lowder, system vice president, technology, OhioHealth, which has 11 member hospitals, more than 50 ambulatory and surgery centers, primary care and specialty practices. “Having a high speed, high performance, highly reliable, low latency network is absolutely critical to our operations. Time Warner Cable Business Class provides that network connectivity.”

One example is OhioHealth’s eICU. Skilled ICU “intensivists” at a central metropolitan facility can now remotely monitor critical patients in hospitals that lack 24-hour access to on-site specialized ICU staff.

Another example is the OhioHealth Stroke Network, which connects emergency teams at community hospitals to specialists in critical care and stroke at OhioHealth’s facilities in Columbus, Ohio. TWCBC’s fiber-based EPL and DIA solutions have expanded the reach of the OhioHealth Stroke Network by utilizing real-time, two-way audio and video, as well as access to imaging, to ensure stroke patients quickly receive the appropriate treatment and interventions.

“OhioHealth is a true innovator and leader. The organization's use of technology to increase patient care effectiveness can help save lives,” said Jeff Greenberg, group vice president, mid-market, channels and alliances, Time Warner Cable Business Services.

TWCBC also provides support beyond the solutions. The company helps OhioHealth with requirements for system availability, disaster recovery and redundancy. The organization has implemented a redundancy solution that features true route diversity, separate entrance facilities and failover supported by ring architecture.

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