Memorial Day Reflections: Serving Veterans Through Connectivity

Honoring Veterans Through Connectivity

Every Memorial Day, we pause to honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. It’s a day of remembrance - but also reflection on how we can continue to support those who have served, like our own Jim Lilienfeld. Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of contributing to a mission that extends beyond technology, bringing vital connectivity to more than a dozen Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals and clinics across the country. From Palo Alto, California, to Asheville, North Carolina, these medical centers are lifelines for veteran communities, offering everything from critical care and surgeries to mental health services and physical therapy.

Reliable communication is a crucial part of that care. ADRF’s Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) and Emergency Responder Communication Enhancement Systems (ERCES) ensure that patients can connect with loved ones, healthcare staff can coordinate smoothly, and first responders can do their job safely. We are honored to play a role in ensuring that those who have sacrificed for us receive the highest standard of care, supported by the connectivity they need and deserve. 

ADRF VA Hospital DAS and ERCES Installations Nationwide (As of January 2025)

How DAS and ERCES Impact Healthcare Facilities

In healthcare settings, connectivity is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. It can be the difference between life and death. For VA medical centers, DAS provides consistent, high-quality cellular coverage throughout large, complex facilities where traditional signals often fail. That means veterans can stay in touch with loved ones, healthcare providers can access patient data without interruption, and operations can run more smoothly. 

ERCES are equally critical. First responders rely on uninterrupted two-way radio communication in emergencies to navigate buildings, locate patients, and coordinate efforts. These systems ensure these essential communications work flawlessly in every corner of the facility, even in stairwells, basements, and thick-walled areas where signals are weakest.

We’ve seen this impact firsthand at VA hospitals like the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital in Tampa, FL, the New Orleans VA Medical Center, and the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center in Aurora, CO. Each project is a quiet testament to the idea that service to others doesn’t end at the battlefield - it continues in how we support veterans in everyday life. 

As we honor the fallen this Memorial Day, we also honor the living - veterans receiving care, the doctors and nurses working the clock, and the first responders who rush in when seconds count. We’re humbled to play a small part in supporting the vital work being done in VA hospitals across the country.