Case Study: Baptist Health achieves 39x faster wireless network and near‑100% reliability with Cerner Network Assurance

Baptist Health boosts network reliability, speed, wireless coverage

Baptist Health, a 749‑bed health network in Montgomery, Alabama, faced aging infrastructure and frequent outages that hindered clinical systems and mobile initiatives. Cabling was outdated, wireless ran on decade‑old technology, coverage was unreliable, and the hospital experienced about six unplanned downtimes a year, limiting support for network‑intensive solutions like mobile vitals, infusion pump integration, patient monitoring and VoIP.

A $7.5 million, multi‑phase Network Assurance upgrade completed in February 2016 replaced cabling and upgraded core and edge switches, adding 15,000 ft of fiber, 50,000 ft of Ethernet, more than 90 wiring closets and 1,100+ access points across five campuses. Capacity rose from 11 Mbps to 433 Mbps (39×), wireless coverage increased over 20%, roaming and device density improved, and reliability nearly doubled—only one unscheduled downtime in the year after—leading to smoother clinical workflows and better patient/family connectivity.

Baptist Health

Kathy Gaston

Chief Nursing Officer