The distributed antenna system provider expands wireless healthcare coverage by millions of square feet and thousands of beds as hospitals and medical facilities begin to take significant advantages of mobile devices.
 

Corning MobileAccess, part of Corning Incorporated's Telecommunications segment has announced that it has expanded its presence in the healthcare world through the additions of several new healthcare institutions to Corning MobileAccess' client roster, including St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, and the Medical University of South Carolina. These hospitals join a number of healthcare institutions -- including Florida Hospital -- that have implemented Corning MobileAccess' distributed antenna system (DAS) to enhance cellular signals throughout their buildings, signifying healthcare's increasing need for uninterrupted wireless access.
 

"The importance of improved cellular services in healthcare goes beyond the ability of staff, patients and visitors to text and make phone calls from mobile devices," said Michael Southworth, senior vice president global business management with Corning MobileAccess. "As more physicians embrace smartphones, and as hospital technology continues to advance at a breakneck pace, from wireless medical telemetry to electronic medical records, hospitals need reliable indoor cellular service to support these devices. DAS provides the necessary coverage for healthcare institutions to best use the next generation of wireless services and technologies, making DAS a must-have in the modern hospital."
 

According to a recent Manhattan Research report, it is estimated that 81 percent of physicians are now using smartphones at work (Physicians and Mobile, May 2011). This, combined with heavy usage from employees, patients and visitors, is creating demand for pervasive cellular coverage throughout medical facilities. Corning MobileAccess' newest healthcare customers are responding to this demand through use of the company's DAS, which dramatically improves the footprint of cellular services indoors.
 

St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, a 443-bed, comprehensive, community and teaching hospital in Pontiac, Mich., worked through their technology integrator RF Connect to select and install the Corning MobileAccess2000 DAS. The Corning MobileAccess solution has allowed St. Joseph Mercy Oakland to greatly improve the ability of patients, visitors and staff to use mobile devices, while supporting the growth of wireless healthcare services within the hospital.
 

"The installation of the distributed antenna system has greatly enhanced our physicians' ability to utilize their wireless devices in the hospital for text and voice communications," said St. Joseph Mercy Oakland telecom supervisor, Paula Hartman. "This new system eliminates the need for pagers and reduces the number of devices that a physician needs to carry throughout the day."
 

Similarly, the Medical University of South Carolina, one of the top academic health centers in the U.S., wanted to improve indoor cellular service while maintaining a flexible wireless system, allowing them to remain future ready for new services and carriers as their needs evolved. To achieve this goal, the Medical University enlisted wireless integrator Longent to implement the Corning MobileAccess2000 DAS, ensuring that both current and future cellular needs would be met inside the facility.