MONTREAL – The Jewish General Hospital (JGH) and Telus today announced the successful implementation of a new telecommunications network to improve wireless reception in the hospital.
Thanks to a $1 million investment by Telus, healthcare professionals, patients and visitors now have access to free Wi-Fi service in several key locations, such as major entrances, waiting rooms and food-service areas, reads the press release.
"We are delighted to provide this new service to patients, visitors and the entire staff, thanks to fast, reliable and free access to Wi-Fi in clearly identified areas," says Bob Lapointe, director of information resources for the Integrated Health and Social Services University Network for West-Central Montreal, of which the JGH is a member facility.
The investment led to the installation of a network of small antennas, known as a Distributed Antenna System (DAS), to improve phone and wireless data reception throughout the hospital. This new internal network provides professionals, as well as patients and visitors, with faster and wider coverage using the latest wireless LTE-A (Long Term Evolution-Advanced) technology, the world’s most sophisticated wireless technology, says the release.
"Over the past few years, members of our team have developed a recognized expertise in the implementation of leading-edge, internal wireless networks, especially in the healthcare sector. Today, we connect approximately ten of the main hospitals in Montreal to the most advanced wireless technology,” said Jacques Garceau, Telus SVP, broadband networks engineering. “Healthcare professionals are increasingly mobile and our technology clearly facilitates access to clinical information systems while they are on the go, whether to provide care in the hospital or remotely."
