Hospital on a Network
Health care providers work with a variety of patients, diagnosing, analyzing test reports, consulting other medical professionals, and, providing solutions to heath related problems. Hospitals, Nursing Homes and other Medical Care Centers tend to provide the latest facilities and comforts to patients in order to ease and shorten the duration of their suffering. Local chemist counter, laboratories, comfortable rooms with amenities, efficient nursing and attending staff, and most importantly experienced Doctors with support technicians who man modern equipment. The facilities in a health Care Center are usually optimal.
However, it would add to operational efficiency if there were an intranet or network assisting these professionals in their work. Traditionally, a network meant connectivity of computers, by installing dedicated servers, equipped with software, at a sanitized location and manned by an army of IT technicians. Today, with enhancements in technology, it means connecting people in an organization. Practically, everyone is equipped with internet connected devices, such as Pc's, Mac's, laptops, PDA's and smart mobiles with which a secure online network can established. A private network on the internet!
On the internet, a network is of much more value, than a website. The reason is simple. A website is a space on a server where a webdesigner hosts information about you, your company or services. 90% of the consumers are just notional owners. Beyond owning a site they can't edit or modfy the contents, create interaction, add or change e-mail identitites, etc. They can only proclaim ownership of the site. Any changes that you may require or for regular updates you'll again require the services of the person who hosed your site. In all probability, you may not even possess the domain ownership code or the web server access username and password.
A network is not only owned but effectively utilized by the people in the organization. It also provides for space, but on secure servers with anti-virus and spam filtering. It is a highly interactive zone for communication. Communication for messaging, information sharing and collaboration become easy and efficient due to anytime and anywhere access. Case histories, reports, medications, prescriptions, consultations, schedules, etc can be managed with ease. Whether on a vacation or while traveling urgent consultations could be attended, after referring to medical details. Delays in administering medical procedures could be avoided.
In house, private video of medical procedures, could be shared and made available to select viewers. These videos could be shared in house or posted to online repositories for information. Articles and reports appearing in journal's and other health care related periodicals could be shared within the community.
The accrual of the various benefits related to establishing an intranet or network can be left to imagination. Media of communication could be text, graphic presentations, spreadsheets, documents with images, voice and video or a combination of multiple media.