Westelcom Communications announced today that it has successfully completed the installation and testing of a high-speed fiber network to Samaritan Medical Center.   The fiber network connects Westelcom’s Central Office, Samaritan  Medical Center, Samaritan’s Administration building, and the Samaritan Medical Plaza on Outer Washington Street.  

The 3-1/2 mile fiber network provides Samaritan Medical Center (SMC) with the capability to rapidly transmit x-rays images and medical information between its facilities and participating medical staff.  Jim Yonkovig, Technical Services Manager for SMC stated “We had a need for a very high-speed network and Westelcom quickly stepped up to the plate with its line crews, engineers, and networking staff to deliver a fiber network with advanced electronics to meet our needs.”

Samaritan Medical Center (www.samaritanhealth.com) is located in the City of Watertown in Northern New York's Jefferson County and has been proudly serving the diverse healthcare needs of its local communities since 1881. Samaritan Medical Center is a 287-bed full-service community hospital providing high quality healthcare from its 1700 employees and 180 physicians. 

Paul Barton, President of Westelcom, stated “We are committed supporting our local businesses and pursuing a city-wide high speed fiber network”.   According to Mr. Barton, Westelcom recently installed fiber connections into Stream, Jefferson County Office Building, Key Bank Building, Community Bank Building, Elks Building, Brownell Abstract, City of Watertown, and Channel 7”.    Barton also stated “The existing fiber rings to SMC, the Medical Plaza and throughout downtown have the capacity to bring on hundreds of local businesses that are on or near its path.”

About Samaritan Medical Center:

Samaritan Health System, located in the city of Watertown in Northern New York's Jefferson County, has been proudly serving the diverse healthcare needs of its local communities since 1881. Samaritan Medical Center, a 287-bed full-service community hospital, and Samaritan Keep Home, a 272-bed long term care nursing home, are the two anchor facilities of Samaritan Health System.

Patients and Residents entering the Samaritan Health System can expect state-of-the-art facilities and services as well as a strong commitment to high quality healthcare from its 1700+ employees and 180+ physicians.

For more information on Samaritan, visit www.samaritanhealth.com