Massive Internet traffic slows KU Hospital’s electronic record system

At Kansas University Hospital, so many people were logged on to the Internet watching inauguration ceremonies today, officials sent an e-mail asking employees to stop.

The demand on the network was large enough that other systems were affected, said hospital spokesman Dennis McCulloch.

“Patient care comes first, even during an historic event,” he said.

He said though the systems were slowed, there was no impact in patient care as staff found alternative ways to access patient records during the brief slowdown.

Once the e-mail was sent, all systems went back to normal, McCulloch said.