KAGes

DIGITAL DIAGNOSIS AND ELECTRONIC TEMPERATURE CHARTS

In 1996, the Styrian Hospitals Limited Liability Company (abbreviated KAGes for Steiermärkische Krankenanstaltengesellschaft m.b.H.) was one of the first customers that counted on the innovative power and the reliable know-how of NTS. This trust survives until now.

During the ongoing operation of the IT infrastructure, KAGes cannot particularly do without collaboration solutions, besides having a stable network technology and a support for the data centers. The decision to rely on technology standards by Cisco proves itself each day and it fosters an efficient patient care.

A conversation with Karl Kocever, Head of IT infrastructure and administrative systems, KAGes, about digital experiences and the right decisions.

Together with NTS, a Cisco video conferencing system was introduced as early as 2011. Could you please tell us what has happened since?

Karl Kocever: Back then we started with the so-called “tumor conferences”, where we compared and interpreted medical reports or X-ray images of cancer patients via video conferences within KAGes. Up to this day, it helped our specialists to quickly discuss complex cases independent of the location and within a relatively short amount of time. To give an example, patients with a suspected stroke will currently receive their first diagnosis via video conference from a specialist based in a different KAGes location.

How has the collaboration of the 18,200 employees of KAGes changed in recent times?

Karl Kocever: Due to the pandemic, a number of meetings changed to Cisco Webex, from board meetings to specialist meetings in the clinical area. To a great extent, trainings are conducted via Webex. We generally benefit from the digitalization and so does the entire health care for the province.

NTS is also looking after your data center and takes care of the modernization of the network. Why did you choose NTS for this job as well?

Karl Kocever: In the data center and in the LAN area we use a well-thought-out network architecture by Cisco – always stable, scalable and secure thanks to NTS. We are able to guarantee a more efficient care of patients due to the improvement of the internet connections and the network between all hospitals. The modernization of our data center is based on Cisco ACI, a modern application-centered infrastructure solution for network visualization and network provisioning. With regard to support, maintenance, quality, and security, it is worth in all respects to go with a uniform and innovative system. The recent alteration was without friction, and it can be compared to an “open” heart surgery.