For facilities using a cloud-based EHR, the internet connection is no longer just a convenience. If it fails, nurses cannot see medication records, admissions stall and documentation falls back to paper. Many facilities rely on a single circuit from a single provider, and discover how fragile that is only when a construction crew cuts a fiber line or an equipment failure takes the link down for hours.
Resilient internet does not have to be expensive, but it does need to be designed on purpose.
Start by listing the services that need connectivity:
EHR and clinical applications
eFax and communications
Telehealth visits
Phone service, if it uses voice over IP
Cloud email and file storage
Pharmacy and lab connections
Cameras, nurse call monitoring and building systems with cloud portals
Then ask: how long could each be unavailable before care or operations are affected? Those answers justify the investment.
The most common approach is a primary circuit plus a backup from a different carrier. Using two carriers that share the same physical path or upstream network defeats the purpose, so ask each provider where their lines run.
Mixing technologies reduces shared failure points. For example:
Fiber primary with a cable or fixed wireless backup
Cable primary with a cellular 4G or 5G backup
Cellular backup is often the simplest and most affordable, though speeds, data caps and signal strength inside buildings vary.
If possible, have circuits enter the building at different points. Two lines through the same conduit can be cut by the same event.
Having a second circuit is only half the solution. You need equipment that detects failure and switches traffic automatically, without someone driving to the building. Look for:
A firewall or router that supports dual internet connections and health checks
Failover tested on a schedule, not just on installation day
Alerts that tell IT when the primary link fails, so the backup does not run unnoticed for months
Some systems also support load balancing that uses both circuits at once. This can be useful, but make sure critical traffic is prioritized when only one remains.
A backup circuit is often slower than the primary. Define which traffic matters in failover mode:
Give priority to the EHR, phones and clinical systems
Limit streaming, guest Wi-Fi and large downloads during an outage
Use quality-of-service settings to protect important applications
Internet redundancy fails if the equipment behind it fails. Check:
Power: put routers, firewalls and switches on battery backup, and consider a generator circuit for the network closet
Single points of failure such as one core switch or one firewall
Wiring and wireless coverage for clinical areas
DNS and phone service dependencies
Even well-designed systems fail occasionally. Prepare:
Downtime procedures and paper forms for key workflows
Offline access to critical information, such as a recent census and medication lists, as your EHR vendor allows
Clear instructions for who calls the carriers and the IT provider
Account numbers and support lines for each circuit, printed and posted
What is the guaranteed repair time and what are the credits when it is missed?
Where does your network path run relative to our other provider?
Is there a business-class support line we can reach around the clock?
What are the upload and download speeds under load?
How will we be notified of planned maintenance?
Price a backup connection against the cost of an outage: delayed admissions, paper workarounds, overtime and risk to resident care. Many facilities find that a modest monthly cost for a second circuit is easy to justify.
UnityCare IT designs and monitors connectivity for healthcare facilities, including carrier coordination and failover testing. If a single circuit is all that stands between your nurses and the EHR, we can help you plan a more resilient setup.
Call or text: 405-285-3845
New customers: start@unitycareit.com
Existing customers: support@unitycareit.com
Address: 2524 N Broadway Ste 554 PMB 947974, Edmond, Oklahoma 73034