QRNO Health Research Access Project

 

Gary Schultz - QRNO

 

Abstract

The HRA Project was established through recognition by the QRNO ICT directors of a need to provide high-speed and reliable network access for university staff & students from hospitals back to their university and the Internet. This recognition came about through increasing requests from university personnel involved in collaborations with hospitals, some examples of which may be

  • researchers needing to move large datasets (say from X-rays or MRI scans) from instrument to data storage;
  • joint staff appointments who require access to both their hospital information systems and their home institution information systems;
  • students who have to access their teaching and learning systems, library databases and email back at their home university.

The current methods of connection were, in some cases, ad-hoc and complicated with low bandwidth. Access to both Queensland Health systems and university systems from the same researcher’s desk required two computers. This project aimed to share and extend existing network infrastructure in hospitals, develop common infrastructure and develop cost sharing and support models.

These aims could also provide benefits to Queensland Health in potential shared infrastructure, consistent processes for dealing with universities requiring access at hospitals, support processes to minimise the impact on hospital help desks and an enhanced experience for clinicians, joint staff appointments and students.

            This presentation will report on the project’s process, progress and products.

Bio

Gary is a long serving staff member and former student at Griffith University. His ICT experience is in computer operations, system administration and, most recently, in network project management. In mid-2007 Gary won a secondment to the QRNO to manage Stage One of the Health Research Access (HRA) Project.