Commonwealth Health Corporation Deploys InnerWireless As Part Of Wireless Strategy To Increase Communication and Patient Safety

InnerWireless' Horizon provides guaranteed wireless connectivity for multiple life- and mission-critical wireless devices

RICHARDSON, Texas – Sept. 4, 2007 –InnerWireless®, Inc., the leading provider of in-building wireless solutions, today announced that Commonwealth Health Corporation (CHC) has deployed Horizon, InnerWireless’ medical-grade wireless utility, into its 330-bed flagship community hospital, The Medical Center at Bowling Green.  With Horizon, CHC has guaranteed wireless coverage for life- and mission-critical wireless devices and applications including:  voice-grade 802.11 b/g, infusion pumps, bedside medication administration and bedside blood bank automation.  

“After meeting with InnerWireless, it was clear to us that they were the only wireless infrastructure vendor that could help us meet our patient care and safety goals,” said Jean Cherry, executive vice president of CHC.  “Although The Medical Center at Bowling Green is a mid-sized hospital in a smaller metro area, we recognized that having guaranteed wireless coverage was a key component to our technology deployment strategy.  Wireless devices give clinicians immediate access to information, and bedside patient-care tools help ensure that we provide the best medical care possible in a timely manner.”

Horizon’s guaranteed signal provides The Medical Center’s clinicians and staff wireless coverage for their cell phones, tablet PCs and other handheld devices, so they can communicate more efficiently with each other and access information from any part of the hospital.  CHC is deploying wireless bedside medication administration and blood bank automation over Horizon, which will help ensure that people get the right medications in the correct dosages, as well as the exact blood ordered.  These patient-care tools not only permit clinicians to spend more time at patient bedsides, but they also reduce the opportunity for adverse drug events and other medical mistakes.

Built in 1980, the community hospital’s single building structure has foil-backed ceiling tiles, which created a unique set of wireless challenges.  Prior to the system design, InnerWireless performed comprehensive wireless environment surveys, taking into account building construction materials and how they block or distort signals, current coverage, and signal level requirements.  InnerWireless engineers then designed Horizon to overcome CHC’s wireless complexities and ensure guaranteed coverage.

Because of Horizon's unique and robust architecture, it can support asset tracking and VoIP – both under consideration for future implementation at CHC – as well as several other applications and devices.  The infrastructure is engineered so that new wireless devices, services and applications can be deployed without constant above-the-ceiling intrusions, which can mean costly disruptions to patient care and create infection control issues.

“Commonwealth Health Corporation is setting a technology standard for mid-sized hospitals. Their adoption of Horizon and wireless technologies will not only keep staff connected to each other and important data, but it also will allow more bedside care,” said Ed Cantwell, CEO, president and chairman of InnerWireless.  “CHC’s dedication to increasing patient safety, eliminating manual processes and improving communication with wireless technologies positions them as a leader among community hospitals.  We are proud to work so closely with their team to make their wireless strategy a success.”

About InnerWireless
InnerWireless, Inc. enables wireless coverage inside large commercial, healthcare and government buildings with Horizon, its wireless utility, a unified broadband distribution platform that supports multiple wireless devices such as cellular/PCS, WMTS, WLAN, VoIP, and two-way radios for security and first responders.  Horizon is scalable, so enterprises can add wireless technologies without disruption.  The company’s other core product suite is Vision, comprised of a location-aware platform and applications designed for enterprise-scale deployment.  Its integrated location management solution allows organizations to transform standards-based wireless networks and active and passive RFID/RTLS infrastructures into a platform for intelligent applications that improve important business processes.  For more information about InnerWireless, visit www.InnerWireless.com.

About Commonwealth Health Corporation
Commonwealth Health Corporation (CHC), headquartered in Bowling Green, Ky., was formed in 1984 as a not-for-profit holding company for The Medical Center at Bowling Green and other health-related businesses. CHC has since grown to be an expansive healthcare corporation in Southcentral Kentucky, operating four acute care hospitals:  The Medical Center at Bowling Green, The Medical Center at Scottsville, The Medical Center at Franklin and Commonwealth Regional Specialty Hospital.   CHC is also the parent company of three immediate care centers, an outpatient rehabilitation center, emergency medical services, health benefit programs, adult day care center, free clinic, medical billing service and numerous physician practices.  In 2006, CHC provided over $47 million in community benefit.  By bringing new services and technology to Southcentral Kentucky as well as giving back to the community, CHC demonstrates its mission to care for people and improve the quality of life in the communities it serves. 

Contact:
Christina Teagarden
Jetstream PR for InnerWireless
972.788.9456, ext. 302
teagarden@jetstreampr.com