WNC HealthLink Frequently Asked Questions

With whom can I videoconference?

You can connect to any WNC HealthLink video site in Western North Carolina. You can also connect to any site in the state, nation and world that has compatible Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) videoconferencing equipment. This connection is accomplished through the ISDN "gateway" at the MAHEC hub. Most universities, major medical centers and large corporations have this capability. Public sites, such as video rooms at Kinko’s, are available to use nationwide for a fee. Note that using the ISDN gateway at MAHEC involves paying charges for long-distance telecommunications lines.

WNC HealthLink does not have direct connection to the North Carolina Information Highway (NCIH) video sites or to the North Carolina Research and Education Network (NC-REN) sites located at universities in North Carolina. Utilizing a third party’s gateway as a bridge into these two networks is sometimes possible; in this case, extra fees usually apply.

What sites are in WNC HealthLink?

How can I add my site to an existing program or meeting?

If you are interested in adding your site to a program or meeting already scheduled, you can contact MAHEC for assistance.  We will be glad to contact the program's sponsor or the coordinator of the meeting and ask their permission to add your site. Please bear in mind that MAHEC cannot add your site without this permission.  The sponsor and/or coordinator of the videoconference event may need additional information so they can evaluate any special logistics or support needs your site may have related to your request.  Most of the time there is great flexibility in adding sites to existing programs where it fits with the program's needs or the needs of the meeting.  In rare circumstances technical limitations may apply.  Therefore, there is no 100% guarantee that all requests can be honored.

Contact MAHEC Telehealth

Why do we need these expensive videoconferencing systems and T-1 telecommunication links? I know other organizations that use less expensive technology.

It is true there are many different types of videoconferencing systems and ways to connect. Large urban centers usually have the most options available to them. Rural areas have limited options. MAHEC continues to evaluate the evolving world of videoconferencing. You may have seen PC-based or other smaller videoconferencing systems demonstrated.

WNC HealthLink is designed to achieve the highest quality real-time interactive videoconferencing available based on telecommunications options consistently available to all sites in the region. The type of equipment and amount of bandwidth needed for interactive video depends on the needs of the users. Our goal has been to create a network that accommodates high-quality (near broadcast quality) real-time interactive video for distance education and can also handle most clinical telemedicine applications requiring real-time motion-dependent interaction. The T-1 option is currently the most cost-effective choice available to all counties in Western North Carolina.

Having evaluated ISDN, we have found that its pricing structure makes it less cost-effective as volume increases, while T-1 becomes more cost effective as volume increases. Unlike T-1 service based on a flat monthly rate, ISDN cost is based on a monthly fee plus usage charges.

How do I schedule a videoconference?

Scheduling a videoconference requires reserving a variety of resources at a number of different organizations, each with its own needs and limitations. The room used for videoconferences, for example, may be in demand for many other purposes as well.

Consequently, attempting to schedule a videoconference on short notice is rarely successful. We therefore ask you to submit your request at least five working days in advance of the event. Your willingness to plan ahead and your flexibility are the keys to getting your event scheduled.

You ask MAHEC to schedule a videoconference by filling out and sending in a Videoconference Planning Form, either by faxing the paper form to MAHEC or sending it to MAHEC as a file attached to email.

MAHEC will forward the Videoconference Planning Form you fill out to the site coordinators at the sites you request. You’ll receive a version of the same form as a notice of confirmation when the videoconference is scheduled.

Click HERE to download Request Form

Why do I need to go through MAHEC to establish a connection? Why can’t I just turn on my machine and dial another site whenever I want??

The WNC HealthLink interactive video network uses telecommunication links that are dedicated and not "dialed." These links are private T-1 circuits leased from the telephone company and do not connect with the public switched telephone network.

The network is designed in a hub-and-spoke configuration. Each T-1 circuit connects with the MAHEC hub and remains connected at all times. This configuration allows each HealthLink site to connect to every other HealthLink site without running separate, and expensive, T-1 circuits to each site. This design also allows the HealthLink sites to participate in multipoint conferences, events that involve more than two sites at the same time. MAHEC serves as the video "switchboard" operator to ensure that no conflicts in resource usage occur.

What is the role of the HealthLink site coordinator?

The site coordinators make the critical link between the sites and MAHEC Telehealth. They initiate and receive all communication involving setting up and supporting an interactive session. MAHEC works with the site coordinators to ensure that each site’s equipment is working properly and that presenters at each site receive the training they need to produce successful videoconferences. Depending on volume, the site coordinators can expect to devote 15% to 25% of their time to supporting videoconferencing at their sites.