Northern Telecom Awarded Contract by Kaiser Permanente for Magellan Passport Enterprise Network Switching Equipment

Strategic Insights -

Northern Telecom, a leading provider of telecommunications solutions, has been awarded a contract by Kaiser Permanente, Southern California Region, to supply Magellan Passport Enterprise Network switching equipment. The new system will be used in Kaiser Permanente's wide area private network to enhance the delivery of healthcare services. After a rigorous six-month testing period, Kaiser Permanente chose the Magellan Passport solution to meet its strategic network plan, known as the Kaiser Permanente Integrated Network - 2000 study. This study aims to evolve the network to support emerging healthcare applications in the next millennium.

Key Takeaways:

  • Kaiser Permanente, Southern California Region has selected Northern Telecom's Magellan Passport Enterprise Network switching equipment to improve the delivery of healthcare services.
  • The new system will be used in the healthcare provider's wide area private network to fulfill network requirements and objectives.
  • The Magellan Passport solution was chosen after a six-month testing period, during which it successfully consolidated traffic over common backbone communication facilities at speeds up to DS-3.
  • The Passport system demonstrated its ability to improve response time, availability, and performance of Kaiser Permanente's wide area network environment.
  • The technology enables prioritization of application traffic through Northern Telecom's unique Multiple Priority System.
  • Kaiser Permanente, Southern California Region is a prepaid health maintenance organization serving 2.1 million members from Bakersfield to San Diego.
  • The Region has more than 3000 physicians and 33,000 employees, with 10 major medical centers and 93 satellite medical offices.
  • Kaiser Permanente evolved from health care programs for construction, shipyard, and steel mill workers in the 1930s and 1940s, and was opened to public enrollment in 1945.

Statistics:

  • The Magellan Passport system successfully consolidated traffic up to DS-3 speeds.
  • The Passport solution improved response time by an unspecified amount.
  • Kaiser Permanente, Southern California Region serves 2.1 million members.
  • The Region has more than 3000 physicians and 33,000 employees.
  • There are 10 major medical centers and 93 satellite medical offices in the Region.
  • Kaiser Permanente has 12 regions, serving 6.6 million members in 16 states.

Sources:

  • "Northern Telecom Awarded Contract by Kaiser Permanente for Magellan Passport Enterprise Network Switching Equipment" (Press release, PRNewswire, March 16, 1995)
  • [No other sources mentioned in the original text]