| esn't matter whether your practice is just one | | | | a bit extra to have a certified electrician install |
| doctor at one location, or a number of physicians | | | | circuits for your network and servers. Typical |
| across a multi-office network. Either way, to | | | | Cat5e wires have either T568A or T568B as a |
| realize a successful electronic medical records | | | | standard. Select either one and be sure |
| system (EMR), you'll need to start by developing | | | | everything is wired to the same standard. The |
| the system infrastructure, the physical 'guts' of | | | | Cat6 wire standard is newer and a bit more |
| the network, if you will. | | | | expensive, probably a bit overkill for most medical |
| Usually a contractor will take care of the network | | | | practices. Copper wires between telephone |
| wiring at your office and multi-office network. It is | | | | communications closets should not contain |
| wise to select a contractor that has been certified | | | | segments longer than a hundred meters. |
| by the Building Industry Consulting Service | | | | Consider using fiberoptic cable for longer wiring |
| International (BICSI). Certified contractors will be | | | | distances, as these cables can move more |
| well-versed in the terms and issues at the | | | | information and is not as vulnerable to |
| present moment, and could help avoid a surprise | | | | interference and effects from lightning. Fiberoptic |
| like an incompatible connection or the need to pay | | | | is a bit more expensive, however. |
| high labor costs to repair a network which was | | | | To make a connection between remote offices, |
| not designed correctly in the first place. | | | | you'll have to create a wide-area network, or |
| Examine the specific needs of every individual | | | | WAN. By doing your homework, you should be |
| location: | | | | able to get a clear sense of the wide-area |
| SECURITY: Don't forget security! Make the wiring | | | | network options which are available to you. In |
| closet secure, and remember that anyone with | | | | most cases, large metropolitan areas have better |
| access to this closet can dismantle your network | | | | options for wide-area networking. |
| at any time. | | | | LOCAL PHONE SERVICE: Meet and understand |
| COOLING: Network and server equipment create | | | | your local service technicians and sales people. |
| abundant heat and also tend to shut down when | | | | They understand the technological offerings in |
| over-heated. Plan for this heat by making sure | | | | your geographic area. Some points to consider |
| you have adequate cooling at the ready; you may | | | | include T1 lines: would a Point to Point (PTP) or |
| consider installing a small air-conditioning unit. | | | | Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) be more |
| WIRELESS: Considering wireless networking, also | | | | beneficial? Be sure to inquire about both burst and |
| known as WiFi? If you are, you will have to | | | | committed info rates. A fast T1 connection may |
| choose a standard: 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, or | | | | not be enough for your needs if the max is not |
| 802.11h? There are newer standards which | | | | there when you need it most. Will the phone |
| provide higher data transfer speeds, but these | | | | company supply and maintain the router |
| systems cost significantly more. The wireless | | | | hardware, or is that your responsibility? |
| standard that you select should depend on | | | | FIBER BACKBONES: Local utilities commonly |
| whether you're running a thin or fat client. | | | | maintain a fiber backbone which they allow |
| OVERWIRE: Most existing buildings are wired | | | | businesses access to. These fiber backbones can |
| above the ceiling. Wiring is then dropped down the | | | | create options for high (10-100Mpbs) bandwidth |
| walls. When wiring, we recommend 'double drops,' | | | | rates between office locations at rates that are |
| as the largest cost of wire installation is the labor. | | | | quite competitive. |
| If, when wiring, everywhere you think of a | | | | The cost of a network infrastructure is much |
| network connection, you wire two drops, you will | | | | lower in a new building. Actually, the ability to |
| thank yourself when you want to annex more | | | | oversee the creation of network wiring in a |
| network devices (networked printer, time clock, | | | | building under construction is a huge advantage for |
| wireless access point, kiosk, for example). It's | | | | clear design and reduced costs. However, the |
| wise to consider installing a network drop | | | | majority of practices will be located in an existing |
| wherever you anticipate the placement of | | | | building, and especially in these cases, sound design |
| diagnostic equipment, as this will help facilitate | | | | and forethought in infrastructure planning will help |
| future interface needs. | | | | save your practice from the costs and |
| ELECTRICITY: It's standard IT practice to spend | | | | disappointment of a network design blunder. |