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Named one of the nation’s top 50 children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, CHOC Children’s Hospital is committed to providing the highest quality pediatric care.
CHOC strives to nurture, advance, and protect the health and well-being of children. Today, over two million children throughout Southern California count on this world-class hospital to be there during life’s most critical moments; regardless of their family’s ability to pay.
To provide world-class care, CHOC clinicians routinely access electronic medical records, receive clinical notifications, and consult with colleagues through their smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices. Because cellular connectivity is the most secure method for accessing the internet, it has become a critical component to providing quality patient care at most hospitals.
Unfortunately, the availability of strong, reliable cell signal coverage was often limited at CHOC.
The Challenge
Doctors, nurses, administrators, and patients at CHOC would often complain about the poor cell signal reception they experienced in different parts of the hospital; regardless of mobile carrier.
Parents of patients regularly used their phones in an effort to keep family members apprised of their child’s condition. At times, this lack of cell reception was merely an inconvenience. At other times, the inability to call or text inside the hospital became a source of frustration and anxiety.
The inadequate cell coverage was most pronounced in the basement tunnel that connected the two buildings that comprise the CHOC campus. Being an area where patients were transferred from the ER, this was deemed one of the most critical locations for improved cell connectivity.
The inadequate cell coverage was most pronounced in the basement tunnel connecting two of the buildings that comprised the CHOC campus. Being an area where patients were transferred from the ER, this was deemed one of the most critical locations for improved cell connectivity.
In response to the complaints, CHOC explored a variety of solutions, looking closely at several vendors and pricing options.
The Solution
CHOC would reach out to WP Electric & Communications, Inc., an innovator in voice/data/fiber cabling system since 1975. Given the scope the project, they recommended a WilsonPro Repeater System to effectively enhance cell coverage for the entirety of the 450,000+ sq. ft. campus.
Robert Trimble, a business development liaison for WP Electric, put together a plan with Wilson engineers to address the challenges the CHOC campus would need to address to overcome bad cell reception.
For CHOC, the deciding factor was knowing that a WilsonPro system could distribute the signal for multiple carrier networks throughout the hospital in a centralized manner. A WilsonPro Repeater System didn’t require any additional equipment or maintenance for each provider.
WP Electric’s expertise with cabling systems and working knowledge of WilsonPro proved to be a plus, since the installation extended from CHOC’s basement to its penthouse floor.
In total, roughly 370 Wilson dome antennas, 34 WilsonPro repeaters, and about 65,000 feet of cable was installed. Initially, CHOC’s facilities team was concerned about the complexity and scale of the installation. However, WP Electric gained their trust by successfully completing their cabling throughout the lower levels of the main building, with zero disruptions or issues.
The Results
WP Electric had estimated that the CHOC project would take six months from initial site survey to complete installation. In reality, they would finish the job an entire month ahead of schedule.
By installing a WilsonPro Repeater System, CHOC also benefited from a cost savings of 80 percent over other types of systems. However, the ultimate test would be the improvement (if any) of cell signal coverage across the CHOC campus. All that remained was the system’s one-time turn on.
To the excitement of everyone, the difference in cellular connectivity was noticed immediately. Employees were overjoyed to be able to receive text messages while sitting at their desks (an impossibility for many before the installation). Others took immediate notice when they got a signal in areas of the hospital where they never expected service before. Some employees can now even stream video in areas of the building that had zero cell signal before.
But for a hospital like CHOC, the importance of cellular connectivity was ultimately about the patients.
“This new [WilsonPro] cellular system will not only save lives, but it will also keep families close together. They won’t have to go far to make cellular phone calls and doctors will be able to get information to patients quicker,” Trimble explains. “With Wilson’s technology, it’s a one-stop shop. You flip the switch and it works. It’s why Wilson is our number one manufacturer today.”
Wilson has also made a lasting impression with CHOC’s Chief Technology Officer, Adam Gold.
“I think we’ve made our customers happy, that being the patients. And I think we’ve made our associates happy, those being the clinicians. I definitely think we’ve seen a difference and I’m really happy with the way it turned out,” said Gold.
Contact us today to see how WilsonPro can help solve cellular connectivity issues in your hospital or building.
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