NOVEMBER 6, 2006 -- Alcatel (search for Alcatel) and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) today announced a multi-year agreement valued at $300 million to upgrade the health care provider's communications infrastructure. As part of the agreement, Alcatel and UPMC also will establish a joint venture to develop advanced communications technologies and applications focused on the health care industry.
The IP network transformation project, which will commence at the beginning of 2007, includes the upgrade of UPMC's wired and wireless data infrastructure, enterprise telephony system, and contact center platforms and applications to a converged IP infrastructure. This will create a single voice, data, and video network and enable the development of advanced communications features that benefit patients and physicians, say Alcatel representatives.
Alcatel says it was selected as the provider of infrastructure and applications for this project based on the breadth of its portfolio, international reach, and deep understanding of the specific needs of the health care market. The project will leverage a range of Alcatel's product portfolio, including enterprise data and telephony solutions, IP routing equipment, optical transport technology, and contact center solutions.
Under the joint venture, Alcatel and UPMC will each invest $25 million to develop applications, technologies, and solutions for the health care (search for health care) industry. Initially, this venture will focus on the area of public safety, with a goal of creating systems, processes, and technologies that ensure first responders, key decision makers, and health care providers are able to securely share and access critical information and applications during a crisis.
"The mission of UPMC is to provide outstanding patient care and to shape tomorrow's health system through clinical innovation and research," explains UPMC chief information officer Dan Drawbaugh. "This dictates a state-of-the-art, reliable, scalable communications system. Alcatel's innovative products will allow for seamless communication by integrating voice and data networks. Access to information for clinical and administrative needs will be available through the most appropriate channels. We believe this initiative will expand to meet UPMC's needs regionally, nationally, and internationally," he contends.
"Alcatel is committed to helping the health care industry redefine its traditional means of communications and business processes during a crisis towards a model that will produce a faster and more efficient first response," adds Hubert de Pesquidoux, president of Alcatel's activities in North America. "We are confident that by leveraging our broad portfolio of communications solutions in the transformation of UPMC's network, UPMC will be able to deliver new services and applications that will help streamline its overall business processes and solidify its role as an industry leader."
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