OREANDA-NEWS. On 18 June 2008 was announced, that as part of the Lattelecom “Leap Forward” project for small and medium businesses, a media survey was conducted to find the best IT&T solution among participating enterprises. Top honours went to the Vidzeme Hospital, which used the IT&T project to reduce the cost of telecommunications services, save time and effort, make the everyday work of doctors easier, and help patients, as well.

The prize was an original painting by Jвnis Anmanis, and it was presented to the hospital on June 16 by the parliamentary secretary of the Latvian Economics Ministry, Artыrs Bergholcs, and the director of Lattelecom’s Business Solutions Division, Raivis Mackeviиs.

Installation of a rapid data transmission network at the hospital in Valmiera has allowed the facility to increase patient numbers by 30% while reducing the amount of time that it takes to provide services to a single patient by 30%, as well. This was part of the “Leap Forward” project for small and medium enterprises, and the system was installed with the help of Lattelecom speciвlists.

One of the most important aspects of the new system at the Vidzeme Hospital is that the data network allows all of the hospital’s units in various cities to access the data servers in Valmiera. The hospital has branches in three cities, and medics often need to exchange important and confidential information. The new system makes it possible to send X-ray images in digital form. X-rays are taken in Rыjiena, Valka an Valmiera, and the digital images can be stored immediately at the central facility. Specialists can quickly review the images from any location where there is computer access. Assistance can be solicited when needed from consulting physicians elsewhere.

SIA Vidzemes slimnоca is an enterprise which was established last year after a merger of the hospitals in Valmiera, Rыjiena and Valka. It was the first enterprise in Latvia to install the latest IT&T solutions with the help of Lattelecom’s “Leap Forward” project. As a result of this, the hospital has not just the unified data transmission network, but also wireless WiFi Internet services and free phone calls. That helps the hospital to save time and money.

The project was declared to be the best IT&T solution among the small and medium companies which were involved in the project by 10 journalists who write about Latvia’s business and technological sectors.

“At a time when there is a certain amount of economic decline, small and medium businesses have to give special thought to improving work efficiency. Wise investments in technologies can improve the quality of services to clients, enhance internal circulation of information, increase data security, and reduce overall business costs,” says the director of Lattelecom’s Business Solutions Division, Raivis Mackeviиs.

The “Leap Forward” project was launched by Lattelecom in 2007 to help small and medium enterprises to develop and to enhance their competitiveness. Applications were received from 88 companies, and after an in-depth audit of existing technologies and needs, seven were selected to join with Lattelecom in the introduction of modern IT&T solutions so as to lower costs and improve effectiveness.

Lattelecom is the leading provider of electronic communications services in Latvia. It offers integrated electronic communications and IT services, as well as telecommunications, network design and installation services. Lattelecom also provides data transmission and IT infrastructure services, Internet and contact centre services, as well as outsourced business process services. The Lattelecom Group consists of five companies – Lattelecom, Lattelecom Technology, Lattelecom BPO, Citrus Solutions and the Baltic Computer Academy.