Smithville Digital and Bloomington Hospital partner to link hospital system via high-speed fiber optic technology
Fiber connectivity will increase rural telehealth capabilities and provide patients with faster and more convenient access to healthcare
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (March 10, 2009) – Smithville Digital, affiliate of Smithville Telephone, Indiana’s largest telecommunications company, today announced a partnership with Bloomington Hospital to provide gigabit fiber optic connectivity to the hospital and its outlying affiliate medical operations in Southern Indiana. The fiber connectivity will increase rural telehealth capabilities and provide patients with more convenient access to care.
“Smithville Digital’s services provide us with the large bandwidth and fast speeds we need to pass large images like x-rays, as well as treatment plans between our facilities. This is important to us because it allows our patients less wait time, less travel, and generally a more convenient experience,” said Bloomington Hospital Chief Information Officer Mark McMath.
Bloomington Hospital serves as a hub connection between Bloomington Hospital of Orange County (BHOC) and Bloomington-area medical facilities. Smithville Digital will link Bloomington Hospital’s three Promptcare facilities (two in Bloomington, one in French Lick) with its fiber optic services.
Bloomington Hospital, a regional referral center serving 10 counties in south central Indiana, is committed to aggressively investing in new technologies and treatment options for patients.
The hospital decided to embrace Smithville Digital’s fiber optic technology as a way to advance medical operations and communicate more effectively with all facilities in the healthcare system.
For facilities like BHOC and the White River Radiation Oncology Center (Bedford) that aren’t located on the hospital’s main campus, the fiber optic connection is especially valuable. For example, an X-ray taken at BHOC can be transmitted in real-time to Bloomington Hospital where a physician can view the image instantly.
Smithville’s fiber optic connectivity will increase the hospital’s technological capabilities to allow for large data transfer and information sharing between remote medical facilities. Bloomington Hospital’s partnership with Smithville Digital is critical to the incorporation of advanced medical technologies that will increase patient care and convenience.
Smithville Digital currently provides high-speed fiber-optic broadband services throughout the state to companies, cities and technology parks like Cook Inc., Bloomington Hospital, Monroe County Schools, Baxter Pharmaceuticals, Purdue Research Park, City of Bloomington, City of Columbus and many other organizations. Smithville Digital continues to invest millions in new fiber-optic infrastructure throughout the state to help boost Indiana’s economy with over $5 million in rural fiber-optic infrastructure just last year.
About Smithville Digital
Smithville Digital was formed in 2003 to offer the highest technological services for businesses and networking throughout the state of Indiana. Smithville Digital provides a fiber-optic means of digital data transmission to its customers. Fiber-optic technology allows for “last mile” connectivity as well as network management solutions to help customers meet their data transmission needs. For more information about Smithville Digital visit www.smithvilledigital.net.
Smithville Digital was formed as a spin-off of Smithville Telephone Company. Founded in 1922, Smithville Telephone has grown to be Indiana’s largest independent telecom company. Smithville Telephone Company has expanded its services to include Smithville Digital as well as DSL services. The headquarters are located in Ellettsville, Ind. For more information please visit www.smithville.net.