GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. — To support continued growth, McLaren Health Care of Michigan is rolling out a system-wide conversion of its information technology supporting both clinical and financial functions. As part of the process, the sprawling health network is enhancing its integrated network capabilities through US Signal, a leading provider of network infrastructure. McLaren Health Care operates over 200 medical facilities in Michigan and employs 17,400 health care professionals.
“McLaren is growing rapidly and wanted to partner with a service provider that could deliver a solution to support its current technology needs and provide products and services to support future network and infrastructure enhancements,” says Brett Alexander, vice president of sales with US Signal.
US Signal’s Virtual Ethernet Service (VES) will provide McLaren the following benefits:
- Reduce the amount of hardware needed at each McLaren facility
- Improve disaster recovery, ensuring adequate back up and system support
- Provide better connectivity throughout the McLaren system, integrating all facilities
- Support technologies such as VoIP and video
- Offer secured guest Internet access
The Virtual Ethernet Service enables long-haul Ethernet traffic to be transported across a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) backbone, providing flexible bandwidth options to McLaren’s Wide Area Network (WAN). “Utilizing these services will enhance our connectivity and technological infrastructure while decreasing our hardware investments,” says Vince Levi, enterprise network services manager of Anthelio Healthcare Solutions Inc., IT Partners for McLaren Health Care. “This plan fits perfectly with our growth strategy of better functions and investments.”
Drew Stewart, a master agent at Telegration, a provider of integrated telecommunications solutions, introduced McLaren to US Signal. “My job is to find the perfect telecommunications carrier for the customer,” Stewart says. “McLaren needed more than just a carrier. As the strongest data provider with the best network operations center in the Midwest, US Signal was the right solution for McLaren’s growth strategy.”
To learn more about US Signal, visit www.ussignalcom.com.
About US Signal
The US Signal network, one of the largest in the Midwest, includes more than 12,000 miles of lit fiber connecting more than 150 on-off ramps, comprising major carrier hotel locations, Ethernet exchanges, incumbent telephone company central offices, and other lit buildings. The US Signal network spans the Midwest, covering Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin.US Signal offers a full suite of data transport products built with dominant networking technologies, Ethernet, and Internet Protocol, to power mission critical business applications. To learn more about US Signal, visit www.ussignalcom.com and follow us on Twitter @ussignalcom.
About McLaren Health Care
With headquarters in Flint, Mich., McLaren Health Care is annually recognized as one of the top Integrated Health Networks in the nation. McLaren is one of the largest health care providers in the state with a system that reaches more than half of Michigan residents through more than 200 locations, 17,400 employees and 15,000 network physicians. McLaren Health Care net revenue exceeds $2.7 billion. The nonprofit system includes hospitals in Bay City, Flint, Lapeer, Lansing, Mount Clemens, Mount Pleasant, Petoskey and Pontiac. Additional health care services are provided at McLaren–Clarkston; McLaren–Bay Special Care in Bay City; McLaren Orthopedic Hospital in Lansing; and McLaren Proton Therapy Center in Flint (beginning late 2012). McLaren Health Care also operates McLaren Medical Group, an employed physician network; McLaren Homecare Group, an award-winning home health, hospice and medical supplies provider; and McLaren Health Plan, a licensed HMO serving over 180,000 covered lives. For more information, visit www.mclaren.org.
About Telegration
Telegration reduces costs and improves efficiencies for over 27,000 businesses including Fortune 500 corporations, cities, government agencies, and other organizations while providing maximum flexibility, service guarantees and exceptional customer service. As a leading Master Agent, Telegration offers a complete range of local, long distance, and Internet services from the industry’s leading providers including AT&T, US Signal, Global Crossing, TNCI, Level 3, TDS Metrocom, Paetec, CBeyond, Masergy, XO Communications and others. Telegration also provides its own private-branded long distance services for voice, video and data applications using the Verizon and TNCI networks. Founded in 1990, Telegration is headquartered in Clawson, Michigan. For more information, visit www.telegration.com.
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