AdventHealth Central Florida has successfully migrated its mission-critical voice communications to FirstNet Rapid Response across more than a dozen hospital campuses in a three-county area. This move comes as the healthcare organization prepares to retire its legacy land-mobile-radio (LMR) system by the end of the year.

Robert Francisco, Security Operations Manager for AdventHealth Central Florida, highlighted the strategic decision to adopt broadband push-to-talk technology, a choice made by his predecessor at a time when Francisco was implementing a similar system for Disney.

“Our traditional land-mobile-radio system struggled to provide reliable coverage from our dispatch center in Orlando to some of our more remote campuses,” Francisco explained during a session at APCO 2024 in Orlando. “With FirstNet, coverage is no longer an issue. The signal quality is excellent.”

The migration initially focused on security teams and EMS personnel, who had faced communication challenges in certain areas of the primary service region, which includes Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties, as well as other parts of Florida.

In addition to push-to-talk capabilities, FirstNet allows AdventHealth to leverage advanced technology that enables dispatch to track the location of personnel as long as their broadband devices are active. Even in the event of cellular service outages, staff can maintain communication via Wi-Fi networks, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity.

Francisco noted that the transition to FirstNet Rapid Response also provided significant economic benefits, particularly when compared to the substantial costs associated with upgrading the existing LMR system.

“The cost to upgrade our LMR system—including technology and infrastructure—was estimated to be over $3 million, not including the installation of new infrastructure for our continually expanding network of hospitals,” Francisco said. “With FirstNet, the devices are free, and we pay $68 per month per device. Plus, there's no need to maintain a separate network or bring in a third party for costly site assessments. It's a straightforward, plug-and-play solution.”

The LMR system's financial drawbacks were further compounded by the high costs of devices—approximately $1,000 per radio, excluding batteries—and ongoing support expenses, Francisco added.

AdventHealth facilities in Kansas are also considering a transition to FirstNet push-to-talk services, though Francisco acknowledged that the solution may not be ideal for every organization.

“This isn't a one-size-fits-all solution,” Francisco cautioned. “Organizations need to carefully evaluate their communication needs and future goals before deciding if FirstNet is the right choice. It’s important to do your research and ensure it aligns with your specific requirements.”