How to Avoid the Most Common Structured Cabling Mistakes in Healthcare

As the healthcare industry continues to implement new technological innovations, it will become increasingly dependent upon structured cabling and other network solutions. At present, there are a number of cabling companies, independent contractors, and traditional electrical wiring professionals available to assist in this area. Not all of these providers are created equal, however.

Common cabling mistakes can lead to costly issues in healthcare environments. In some cases, they can even disrupt services and affect the quality of care that healthcare providers give to their patients. Independent contractors and traditional wiring professionals who haven’t served under a dedicated cabling company may lack the years of collective experience that a company can provide. As such, they can sometimes make mistakes. These mistakes may seem innocuous at first, but they can lead to interference, confusion, and a lack of network sustainability.

The best way to avoid any structured cabling mistakes for your healthcare facility is to rely on a certified cabling and IT company for all of your needs. When you partner with a cabling company, they will design and install structured cabling networks suited to your unique facility, whether it is a sprawling city hospital or a small town urgent care clinic. Cabling companies will also avoid the most common structured cabling mistakes in healthcare, mitigating your risk of disruption and providing you with a network infrastructure that lasts for years to come.

Avoid the Most Common Structured Cabling Mistakes

An experienced cabling and IT company will follow these best practices when designing and installing cabling networks, security systems, wireless systems, paging systems, and more:

1.Planning for Sustainability

Technology evolves rapidly, but that doesn’t mean your structured cabling network will need to be replaced soon after you install it. To stay on budget while also maintaining reliability, you should partner with a cabling company that designs networks to last far into the future. Industry standards have been developed to ensure that cabling networks should be usable for periods of time in excess of ten years . The best cabling companies will work you to exceed even this length of time. Maintaining sustainability involves choosing the right hardware selections, implementing them accordingly, and ensuring easy access for maintenance and replacement.

2. Implementing Voice Over IP with Data-Ready Cabling

One of the most common mistakes made when implementing voice over IP (VoIP) systems is the use of basic telephony cables instead of the more robust cabling used in computing. Although most healthcare facilities may retain traditional telephone systems, structured cabling professionals know that the demands of VoIP are much greater. To avoid interruptions in communication, rely on a cabling company to install data-ready communications systems.

3. Routing Cabling Properly

The electromagnetic fields produced by electric wiring and by some medical devices may produce interference in a cabling network. Running structured cabling alongside electrical wiring is one of the most common mistakes made by independent contractors and unspecialized wiring professionals. Cabling companies have extended experience with this issue, and know how to route cabling away from electrical interference or, if necessary, cross cabling over electric wiring to avoid interference.

You also want to maintain the safety and aesthetic of your particular healthcare facility. A certified cabling company will route cabling behind walls, in ceilings, and in other locations so that it is out of sight, but easily accessible for maintenance.

4. Overcoming Distance Limitations

Cabling technology has advanced considerably in the past decade, but there are still distance limitations for specific types of cabling. Every reliable cabling and IT company is aware of these distance limitations and knowledgeable about how to overcome them. Regardless of the size of your healthcare facility, there are solutions available for implementing networks over long distances, like using switches or enhanced cabling types that carry signals farther.

5. Relying on a Certified Cabling Company

Like any other wiring professional, cabling companies are aware of and follow industry standards, laws, codes, and local ordinances. When selecting a wiring professional, look for important industry affiliations and certifications, like that of Building Industry Consulting Service International (BICSI). For durability and sustainability, look for companies that exceed standards.

6. System Testing and Maintenance

One of the most important steps in the installation process is testing. Neglecting to test a structured cabling network immediately after installation can result in network hindrances in the future, which is unacceptable in a healthcare environment. A certified cabling and IT company will ensure that your system is operational from the start.

Although a cabling company will build your system to last, it is important to conduct routine maintenance to sustain the functionality of the system. By partnering with a cabling company, you can have them on call should any maintenance issues arise. They will also be on standby for the future, in case you need to expand your facility or make changes to your system.