InfoLogix and Chesterfield, Missouri-based Sisters of Mercy Health System have inked a deal to deploy wireless multi-site medical communications throughout the seven state area hospitals, physician practices and outpatient clinics. As part of the deal across three of the health system's campuses, some 240 mobile phones will be distributed to doctors, nurses and patients (?) at Mercy hospitals. Nurses will carry the phones to enable rapid transmission and receipt of info using InfoLogix's VoIP solution.

VoIP is different from traditional cellular telephony namely because it works over the Internet as opposed to cellular channels. VoIP solutions could work over a WiFi network, for example. The system InfoLogix deployed for Sisters of Mercy, however, is different even from typical VoIP--it runs over IP-DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications), which is a popular wireless technology used for cordless phones in Europe. IP-DECT will help ensure that even if the hospitals main system or WiFi system goes down, these phones will still work.

We discussed the IP-DECT technology a few weeks ago during an interview with NEC about their phone watch designed for doctors or nurses looking for a better pager device.

InfoLogix deployed 160 wireless Ascom IP-DECT handsets (pictured above) on Mercy's Springfield, Missouri campus and a total of 80 handsets across Mercy's Independence, Kansas hospital and Fort Scott, Kansas campus.

In total, Sisters of Mercy have 19 acute care hospitals with more than 4,000 licensed beds as well as two heart hospitals and a managed care subsidiary in Arkansas, Kansas and Louisiana. 

For more, read the company's press release.