Case Study: Satilla Regional Medical Center achieves reliable, hospital-wide 802.11n Wi‑Fi for critical-care applications with RUCKUS Networks

Regional Medical Center Makes the Move to Healthier 802.11n Wi-Fi for Critical-Care Apps

Satilla Regional Medical Center, a 370,000 sq. ft. non‑profit acute‑care hospital in Waycross, GA serving 1,300 staff and 30+ physicians, was struggling with an unreliable wireless LAN. The existing system produced spotty coverage, frequent interference and unstable client connections that disrupted critical clinical applications (bedside med dispensing, wireless IV pumps, ICU vitals) and forced an overworked two‑person network team into constant troubleshooting.

Satilla standardized on a Ruckus ZoneFlex 802.11n solution—65 ZoneFlex 7962 APs and two ZoneDirector controllers—using patented BeamFlex adaptive beamforming and centralized, plug‑and‑play management. Deployment took two days and nearly halved the AP count versus the previous design while delivering stable connectivity, reduced packet loss, consistent throughput at range, better basement/outdoor coverage, integrated support for real‑time video/voice and enabling expanded clinical uses like RFID asset tracking and bedside monitoring.

Satilla Regional Medical Center

Barry Rudd

Director of IT, Satilla Regional Medical Center