Kcom

 

From December 2007, Kcom (formerly Affiniti) became responsible for the management and monitoring of the existing communications network for the current hospital sites of the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, including the Haywood Hospital.

As the redevelopment of the City General and the Haywood Hospitals continues, Kcom will begin designing and implementing state-of-the-art communications for both hospitals, and as the new buildings and systems become operational, these will be incorporated within the managed service provided by Kcom, under the terms of the PFI contract.

The advanced ICT services provided by Kcom will enable clinicians and other hospital staff to access information from anywhere on-site, whether inside or outside of the hospital buildings, helping them to perform tasks more efficiently, including diagnosing and monitoring patients. The services will include unified communications with campus-wide wireless, IP telephony and mobile deployment.

Kcom will manage a new Video conferencing facility that will be installed across the Trust and a small contact centre will also be deployed. ICT services will also underpin the Trust’s Facilities Management services as well as leading edge medical equipment and clinical applications such as Picture Archiving Communications Systems (PACS).

In addition, to support the new PACS system and future application developments, there has been a major network upgrade project. This involved the Trust’s network team working closely with Kcom to provide a more robust, resilient and efficient network infrastructure.

By upgrading, managing and refreshing the ICT services provided, Kcom will ensure that North Staffordshire's new hospitals will have the functionality to support their key medical facilities and address their ambitions for improved patient care and greater efficiency.

Kcom will maintain a permanent on-site network management team with service delivery, engineering and operations staff to provide day-to-day support and help in maintaining the high priority service levels.

For more information about the partnership between the University Hospital of North Staffordshire and Kcom contact Val Howarth, Service Delivery Manager on 01782 715444 extension 4367 or email val.howarth@uhns.nhs.uk . .