HEALTHNET is a coalition between units of the UF Health Science Center (HSC)
whose mission is to build and operate a high performance communication network to
the benefit of all segments of the HSC population. Priorities are performance,
reliability, accessibility, and flexibility. Operational responsibility is
currently shared between the Office of Information Technology (OIT) in the Office
of the Vice President for Health Affairs (OVPHA) and the Shands Hospital
Information Services (STH IS). Global policy is set by the HSC executive
management. Guidance, direction setting, and performance quality demands are
established in concert at the HEALTHNET Planning Group (HPG) weekly meeting
(between HEALTHNET Operations and appointed representatives of LAN
constituencies) and a monthly open meeting of HSC LAN Administrators and any
other interested parties. A 24-hour voice help line is available to report
problem calls.

HEALTHNET is currently responsible for
	1.design, planning, installation, and operation of data communications
	   infrastructure from the central HEALTHNET backbone core out through (and
	   including) the station cabling in all locations of the HSC 
	2.interconnectivity between HEALTHNET and other networks 
	3.structured cabling for voice connections in the non-Shands areas of the HSC 
	4.working to improve responsiveness of voice services 
	5.planning and preparation for the distribution of emerging communications
	   applications. 
	6.liasion with UFNET to maintain appropriate services and performance at 
	   the UFNET point of presence (POP)

At this time, end user support, training, software, application support, and
server access are the responsibilities of LAN administrators in each
department/unit. While current UF policy does not allow HEALTHNET to directly
provide telephone services to HSC users, this is a support area of high potential
for improvement and great interest. Further, as video, voice, and data
communications converge, both locally and for remote applications services (e.g.,
teleconferencing, telemedicine, distance learning, etc.) HEALTHNET will be held
to an increasingly high level of performance demand to properly provide transport
medium across all HSC programs.

As of December, 1994, HEALTHNET includes 6,560 data connections (5,760 uniform
structured wiring; 800 legacy connections at various stages of being upgraded) in
50 buildings in 6 cities and approximately 1,500 telephone station connections.
There are more than 137 physical telecommunications closets and three network
control centers including at least 350 electronic component devices with an
acquisition value of more than $1,800,000. The growth and operation of HEALTHNET
has been funded by HSC management from multiple funding sources over its five
year growth. Growth is projected to continue to approximately 9,000 connections
in 1996.

HEALTHNET is a mission critical asset of the HSC. It is the access path to UF
administrative systems (e.g., payroll, purchasing, central leave, ACCESS, student
records, etc.), Shands information systems (hospital information, medical
records, patient scheduling, etc.) and the Internet. Due to the commitment to
provide high performance services in support of the clinical and administrative
missions to the desktop, HEALTHNET must operate with stability and
accountability. These goals, though never fully achieved, keep HEALTHNET moving
forward.

This is a challenging, ever-changing, endeavor helping the Health Science Center
and the Health System address the service needs of the future.