Using the virtual local area network (VLAN) technology already in place and integrating a virtual private network (VPN), Wandering WiFi was able to add an encryption layer to WellStar's existing secure network to separate official hospital information from traffic generated by hotspot users. With the additional Wandering WiFi technology now in place, WellStar also has the ability to track and monitor all traffic from a central location, prioritize bandwidth utilization and restrict access to sites with objectionable content.
WellStar Health System includes five not-for-profit, community-based hospitals and more than 11,000 healthcare professionals that deliver healthcare for a community exceeding 600,000 people.
"We are committed to delivering the very best healthcare to our patients while also seeking ways to improve the way we deliver care. That includes a broader offering of services designed to enhance and positively impact the patient's experience while in our environment," said Cathy Parmly, technical development director of WellStar Health System. "Wandering WiFi gives us the opportunity to offer patients across our network Internet access with complete security and within HIPAA guidelines -- something we haven't been able to achieve in the past. We are very excited to be one of the first healthcare systems to offer secure Wi-Fi to patients."
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was passed on August 21, 1996. Among other things, it includes rules pertaining to increased and standardized confidentiality and security of health data. HIPAA privacy regulations require that access to patient information be limited to only those authorized, and that only the information necessary for a task be available to them. And finally that personal health information must be protected and kept confidential.