Data Centers rely heavily on efficient and dependable power distribution systems. As the need for higher density in data centers grows, data center teams are encountering a fresh set of challenges.  And when it comes to healthcare data centers, which need to ensure the availability and security of patient data and medical devices, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

UI Health, a leading healthcare institution in Chicago, is part of the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) clinical enterprise that consists of a 455-bed tertiary care hospital, 26 outpatient clinics,13 federally qualified Mile Square Health Center facilities, and seven UIC health institutions.

Common High-Density Challenges in the Healthcare Industry Take Precedent

UI Health faced several common challenges in its high-density data center, which required a reliable and scalable power distribution system. High-density data centers are becoming more prevalent in the healthcare industry because they enable faster processing and storage of large amounts of data from electronic health records, medical imaging, telemedicine, and other applications. However, these data centers also demand more power and cooling, which pose significant challenges for traditional power distribution methods.

Due to the legacy power provisioning method, it took six to seven weeks for each rack deployment at UI Health. This slowed down the expansion and upgrade of their data center. Moreover, the complex network of cabling that ran under the floor created a cluttered and hazardous environment. The cabling also obscured the visibility of power sources, which made it difficult to allocate space for new equipment, troubleshoot breakers, and monitor power usage. These challenges increased the risk of downtime, power inefficiency, and human error, which could compromise the availability and security of critical patient data and medical devices.

Partnering Together to Reprovision a Data Center for the Future

To address these challenges, UI Health upgraded its data center equipment and reconfigured its power distribution. Partnering with Panduit, a global leader in network and electrical infrastructure solutions, it was identified that FlexFusion™ cabinets, power distribution units, fiber cabling, and overhead power distribution would be the best set of solutions to align with UI Health’s current and future goals.

The installation of the overhead power distribution was completed in under two hours within a live data center environment, minimizing disruption and downtime. By choosing Panduit, UI Health was able to leverage the expertise and experience of a trusted vendor that understood their specific needs and challenges.

UI Health’s strategic objectives were to improve the reliability, efficiency, and scalability of its data center, as well as to enhance the security and availability of its patient data and medical devices. With the assistance of Panduit, UI Health was able to achieve these goals by simplifying power distribution, reducing cabling clutter, enabling faster deployment, and providing better visibility and control over power usage.

“Working alongside UI Health was a collaborative endeavor. Our internal teams and the customer came together to identify the precise needs and craft a solution to meet them. It’s gratifying to see our combined efforts result in a robust solution that will serve UI Health efficiently for many years to come. At Panduit, it’s about more than just delivering products; it’s about ensuring those products genuinely address the unique needs of our customers.”

-  Chris Mactal, Regional Sales Manager from Panduit

Benefits Have Been Seen as Immediate and Significant

The benefits have been immediate and significant. Procurement is now streamlined and efficient. Wait times have been reduced from weeks to just two days.

“Everything is now identifiable and accessible above the rack, eliminating the need to dismantle flooring and trace cabling. This translates to substantial time savings.”

-   Gustavo Aldaba, retired Network Manager and current consultant for UI Health

The system has improved the team’s ability to locate cabling. Embedded breakers ease the identification of malfunctions and clarify space allocations. The full suite of products and solutions has revolutionized UI Health’s approach to power provisioning and has positioned the institution to efficiently meet its future high-density power requirements.

Read more about how Panduit teamed up with UI Health to future-proof their Data Center environment.