G4S Constructing $18 million Nebraska Fiber-Optic Healthcare Network

Improving the way Healthcare is Administered

G4S Technology (formerly Adesta), a systems integrator and project management company for communication networks and electronic security systems, has begun construction on the Rural Nebraska Healthcare Network (RNHN); a 750-mile, $18 million fiber-optic network that will span 12 counties in western Nebraska.

RNHN is a consortium of nine primary care hospitals and dozens of clinics. The 750-mile network will connect these entities, and provide connection to national research networks such as National Lambda Rail and Internet 2 in Denver, Colorado.

Once construction is complete, RNHN will be one of the most progressive and robust medical networks in the state. The project utilizes federal funding under the Rural Healthcare Pilot Program of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in conjunction with additional funding from Zayo Group and the support of Regional West Foundation and Fiberutilities Group.

The improved speed and capacity will transform how healthcare is delivered in Western Nebraska by facilitating new Healthcare Information Technologies such as:

• Global patient index enabling electronic medical records
• Teletrauma/remote trauma diagnosis
• Integrated results and laboratory management
• Tele-pharmacy
• Syndromic surveillance
• Portal access and connectivity to national research networks and the Centers for Disease Control

These benefits will improve the quality of care, lower costs, reduce medical and records errors, facilitate state-of-the-art medical technology and ultimately save lives.

“This advanced medical network will improve the way healthcare is administered in the panhandle by providing patients with many new benefits including real-time access, and electronic medical records,” said Bob Sommerfeld, President of G4S Technology. “It will lower costs, reduce error and ultimately, save lives. We are proud to be a part of something that makes such a difference in our home state of Nebraska.”

To underscore the significance of what it can mean to go from the current T1 line system to this type of fiber optic capacity, Dr. Sorenson, President and CEO of Regional West Health Services, had this to say:

“A patient’s CT scan was sent via T1 line to a receiving hospital at the same time the patient was placed in an ambulance for transfer to that same hospital. The patient arrived before the CT scan transmission was completed. While it might not be the norm, it illustrates how much can be gained by the nearly instantaneous transmission this network will offer.”

Download the PDF: Transforming network for Rural Nebraska Healthcare Network