The Rural Nebraska Healthcare Network, a consortium of nine rural hospitals and related clinics in western Nebraska, has begun work on an $18 million fiber optic medical network aimed at improving care throughout the Nebraska panhandle.
The planned 750-mile fiber network spans 12 counties in western Nebraska and will connect to national research networks such as National Lambda Rail and Internet 2 in Denver.
The RNHN members are:
- Box Butte General Hospital in Alliance;
- Chadron Community Hospital and Chadron Garden County Health Services in Oshkosh;
- Gordon Memorial Hospital in Gordon;
- Kimball Health Services in Kimball;
- Memorial Health Center in Sidney;
- Morrill County Community Hospital in Bridgeport;
- Perkins County Health Services in Grant; and
- Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff.
Working on the network are the Fiberutilties Group, an Iowa based consulting and technology firm; the Louisville, Colo.-based Zayo Group, a provider of bandwidth infrastructure services; and Omaha, Neb.-based Adesta, which provides solutions for advanced communication networks and security systems. The project has the support of the Regional West Foundation.
Using federal funding under the Rural Healthcare Pilot Program of the Federal Communications Commission, in conjunction with funding provided by the Zayo Group, the RNHN plans to connect the hospitals and dozens of affiliated clinics to create one of the most advanced medical technology networks in Nebraska.
“This fiber network will facilitate the deployment of advanced medical technologies and vastly improve patient care and physician communication,” said Lisa Bewley, chief information officer for Regional West Medical Center.
The Zayo Group’s role in the construction of the network will enable additional commercial telecommunications products to be offered in underserved rural Nebraska, said officials.
“Zayo is pleased to be a part of constructing the network that will enable communities in western Nebraska access to advanced medical care,” said Glenn Russo, president of Zayo Networks. “We will also be significantly advancing the overall communication capabilities within these communities by offering high bandwidth services over this new fiber network to businesses, government agencies and communications companies throughout western Nebraska.”
“We are excited to be here today to celebrate and commemorate this amazing network that will undoubtedly revolutionize healthcare in the panhandle of Nebraska,” said Bob Sommerfeld, president of Adesta, at the groundbreaking ceremony. “Adesta is going to hit the ground running, and we are looking forward to a timely completion.”
Fiberutilities has handled the nearly two years of planning, financing and operational and government coordination functions for the network.
“This network represents the power of people working together,” said Kent Van Metre, the company’s vice president. “With tremendous support from the FCC, and by partnering with community-oriented organizations like Zayo and Adesta, the RNHN is poised to have a truly state-of-the-art, advanced healthcare network.”
