In last week’s VCH News IMITS asked that staff refrain from watching Olympic events while at work because we were concerned that heavy internet usage would impact our ability to deliver patient care.

Unfortunately, our concerns have come to pass: We are currently experiencing a very high rate of internet usage, which is having a material impact on the performance of various clinical and business systems that require internet access to properly function.

How can I get updates on the Olympics?

Therefore, we are asking everyone to stop watching the Olympics online, via a web browser or streaming video, whether you’re using a VCH or other Health Authority Managed device or a personal device that you’ve connected to the network. If you would like updates on how the Canadian team is faring at the day’s events, we encourage you to visit http://www.sochi2014.com/en  for real time information. But please, don’t play the video on the network.

If there is no noticeable reduction in the degree of internet usage for streaming video over the coming days the websites containing the Olympic video will feed will be blocked to all users.

Thanks for your understanding and support. And KEEP IT UP, CANADA!