New TIA-1179 standard supports IP convergence of CIS

With healthcare networks expanding to support an increasing number of applications, as well as to transmit and store voluminous digital information, the migration toward Internet protocol (IP)-based convergence of clinical information systems (CIS) in hospitals is well under way. CIS comprise numerous network-based systems designed to provide medical professionals with digital collection, storage, manipulation and access to each patients clinical information using standards-based communication technologies. Recognizing that existing TIA-568-C commercial building standards for network cabling infrastructures were no longer adequate for healthcare facilities, the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) responded in August 2010 by ratifying the ANSI/TIA-1179 Healthcare Facility Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard. While the TIA-1179 standard is changing how healthcare facility network infrastructures are designed and deployed, it also addresses the overall IT requirements of such facilities. The new standard also provides guidelines on a host of other network infrastructure challenges, including sustainability and growth, infection control procedures, resistance to EMI/RFI interference and more.