[August 23, 2004]

VoIP Connects NY Docs and Patients

BY JOHANNE TORRES

Having a medical entity with multiple care facilities that deal with thousands of patients� calls for appointments and general care inquiries could be a very difficult challenge that creates exorbitant communication expenses.  Facing that challenge, the Queens-Long Island Medical Group, P.C. (QLIMG), was searching for a solution that would lower their telephone bills by using a VoIP-based system, without having to invest in too much on new equipment. Enter Colorado-based VoIP supplier, Level 3 Communications, Inc. (quote) and Level 3-enabled partner, IP Business Solutions (IPBS) (news- alert) to streamline the entity�s telecommunications system.

�QLIMG wanted a way to reduce their long distance telephone bill incurred by their 21 locations, they wanted to lower their total telecommunication expenses by at least 40 percent, and we have met their expectations,� said Level 3�s Jeff Allen. IPBS is supplying Level 3�s (3) Tone Business service (IPBS� IPConnect Hosted IP Communication Solution) to the physician-owned medical group with 21 medical center offices throughout Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties composed of about 1,700 employees, including doctors, nurses, other health professionals, as well as technical, administrative and clerical staff. IPBS is also supplying Level 3 colocation, high-speed Internet access and metropolitan private line services. The sale may be one of the largest business VoIP installations to date, saving the client a significant 40 percent of their total telecommunications cost.  

By selecting this combined solution, the medical group was able to condense multiple networks for voice and data into one converged network. One of the only investments that the company had to make was to get new Cisco (news � alert � quote) headsets. �We�re pleased to be working with Level 3 to supply QLIMG with a high-quality, cost-effective VoIP solution, which we believe to be unsurpassed in today�s marketplace,� said John Leoniak, chief executive officer of IPBS.

With (3)Tone Business service, IPBS customers such as QLIMG can manage their own telecommunications needs in real time, while saving significant capital and operating costs over more traditional alternatives such as PBX, IP-PBX, Key, or Centrex. (3)Tone Business connects all company locations and remote employees with the same dialing plan, creating a virtual campus environment, allowing intra-company 4- or 5-digit dialing and forwarding of calls and voicemail messages between locations. With (3) Tone Business, users can manage all of their office communications needs through any Internet access, browser, or wireless device.

Features included in the (3) Tone Business service:

• Communications cost savings of up to 40 percent resulting from simple calling plans, free calls between locations and reduced operations costs;

• Streamlined administration resulting from point-and-click tools, eliminating the need for costly maintenance and support;

• Shared features resulting from a hosted environment, which ensures that businesses and their remote locations all operate on the same platform;

• Enhanced functionality that is typically associated only with high-end PBX systems;

• Scalability that allows new users to be added as businesses grow without having to buy new switches or cards.

Level 3 Communications

www.level3.com

IP Business Solutions

www.ipbsolutions.com

Queens-Long Island Medical Group, P.C.

www.qlimg.com