Neb. Hospital Consortium Advances Telecom System

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. — The Rural Nebraska Healthcare Network, a consortium of hospitals and related clinics in western Nebraska, recently announced a pending transaction for a $20 million fiber optic medical network that will connect the RNHN’s nine primary care hospitals and dozens of affiliated clinics.  

Using federal funds provided by the FCC’s Rural Health Care Pilot Program, as well as funding from telecommunications provider Zayo Group of Louisville, Colo., the RNHN will develop a 750-mile fiber network that will span 12 counties and connect to national research networks such as National LambdaRail and Internet2, as well as to the Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, Colo. Telecommunications builder Adesta Group of Omaha, hopes to break ground on the network this summer.  

The new-technology, 1-gigabit ethernet lines will allow better regional connectivity with facilities in South Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado than the older T1 lines currently used by RNHN hospitals. The network will also transfer electronic health files faster between RNHN hospitals and clinics and expand the use of telehealth and telemedicine applications for clinics and non-clinics. 

Additionally, the RNHN hopes to increase Web-based distance education for healthcare staff and allow for better communication between physicians. 

Future expansion of the network would connect the RNHN facilities with Rapid City Regional Hospital in Rapid City, S.D., and to a Native American healthcare facility in Pine Ridge, S.D. 

Almost two years in the planning, the RNHN project has utilized Fiberutilities Group LLC, a Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based technology and management firm, to handle the planning, financing, operations and government coordination necessary to build the network. 

The final stages of federal approval from the Universal Services Administration Corporation are expected this spring, with construction commencing shortly thereafter. The network has a planned completion date of fall 2011. 

The RNHN includes Box Butte General Hospital in Alliance, Chadron Community Hospital, Garden County Health Services in Oshkosh, Gordon Memorial Hospital, Kimball Health Services, Memorial Health Center in Sidney, Morrill County Community Hospital in Bridgeport, Perkins County Health Services in Grant and Regional West in Scottsbluff.