BT wins key Australian health IT contract

BT selected by Serco as IT partner for new hospital in Western Australia

BT today announced that it has won a major networked IT contract in Australia’s health sector where it has been selected by Serco, the international service company, to be its IT partner on the new Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth, Western Australia.

Under the contract, BT will install and manage the hospital’s communications infrastructure and run a range of IT services aimed at helping the hospital become one of the most technologically advanced and environmentally friendly hospitals in the country.

This includes deploying a secure local area network and providing systems integration services, unified communications, mobility and conferencing technologies. By using the latest communication technology, the hospital expects to increase efficiency and productivity, while enabling health professionals to spend more time with their patients.
For example, BT will be providing a highly resilient network infrastructure that will use cabled MPLS technology on the campus for fast network access. This network will be augmented with a WIFI mesh network to enable innovative unified communication solutions. Among other things, this will make it easier for multi-disciplinary care teams to hold review meetings, rather than have to schedule face-to-face meetings, freeing up staff’s time to deliver even better care.

In addition, the hospital intends to introduce a radio frequency identification technology service to track vital equipment such as scanners, ultrasound equipment and defibrillators. This will ensure asset levels are appropriate for the hospital, and that critical equipment is available at the right time at the right location.

Using these technologies for the more efficient management of its resources will also contribute to keeping Fiona Stanley’s carbon footprint to a minimum.

As the lead service integrator, Serco will work with the Western Australian Government on the provision of non-clinical services and BT will act as its key IT partner.

Currently under construction in Perth, Western Australia, the new 783 bed hospital is due for completion by 2014.

Serco Australia Chief Executive David Campbell said: “BT’s proven track record in the health market complements our own experience in this field. It is an excellent company to be a partner with on this ground-breaking project; not only because of its expertise and long history in providing services to the health sector, but also its unique experience in delivering very large-scale programmes in the UK and around the world.”

Jeff Kelly, chief executive of BT Global Services, said: “BT has a long and successful history as a leading supplier of communications and IT services to the healthcare sector. While our primary focus has been in the UK with our work with the National Health Service, we are now looking to apply this unique knowledge and expertise globally, especially in the Asia Pac region. We are delighted to be teaming-up with Serco. I am very proud that we have been chosen to provide The Fiona Stanley Hospital with a complete suite of IT services and helping create one of the most technologically advanced medical facilities in the world.”

As part of this project, BT will create more than 70 jobs in Western Australia. Up to 10 new positions are already being established following the signing of the contract. BT has committed to the development of its Health Practice in Australia, with the team expanding to over 90 people in Australia throughout the next two years. The Health Practice includes experts in Clinical Design Assurance, Clinical Safety Management, Technical Architecture and Major Program Practice, providing a strong capability for local delivery. In Australia BT has already utilised its clinical safety management experience and portfolio to support NeHTA in successfully developing its own clinical safety management capability.

There have been a number of health programs implemented successfully in Singapore, Hungary, Australia, France, Spain, and the Netherlands.

BT established operations in Australia more than 25 years ago. BT now employs more than 200 people in offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.