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wlan wireless networks wireless communications wireless video surveillance systems video surveillance two-way radios todays wireless world security safety and security push-to-talk productivity mike butler ip healthcare efficiency digital technologies digital call boxes
It seems everyone is talking about healthcare. This week, the health insurance exchanges established by the Affordable Care Act went into effect. Many wonder what this means for their individual care plans. Now more than ever, hospitals need to reduce costs and increase efficiency through any means available. Digital wireless technology offers a clear path to improved productivity. Most hospitals are anxious to try new technology. The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society found that 79% of 253 healthcare executives said they plan to use wireless equipment information systems in the coming year. Doctors are, by nature, early adopters of technology. "Doctors were the first large worker base that started using PDAs on the job," Ellen Daley, an analyst at Forrester Research recently told Computerworld magazine. "Here are a bunch of people who have an appetite for carrying PDAs." The impact of wireless technology extends far beyond its most obvious uses. In a report on wireless technology in the healthcare industry for TodaysWirelessWorld.com, BearCom's Mike Butler wrote, "The application of wireless technology in the healthcare field can be dramatic. The impact behind the scenes, however, can be just as important. Hospitals, for example, count on a variety of wireless communications technologies to make them more cost efficient." Hospitals have to provide a secure environment. Every person needs to be accounted for in order to ensure the safety of staff and patients. So security officers often use IP video surveillance to monitor the exterior of the hospital grounds for any suspicious activity. As an added security/safety feature, wireless call boxes are frequently used to alert personnel to any emergencies that may occur. The devices can give responders an immediate location and push-to-talk access to the person on the other side. Inside the walls, wireless LANs allow hospitals to access and update electronic medical records at patients' bedsides and match barcoded patient wristbands and medication packages to physician-directed orders. Wireless technology is in high demand. The market research firm IDC found that more than 80% of 34 healthcare organizations polled use wireless LAN systems. And the use of wireless technology can ultimately lead to cost savings and better healthcare. A report from the California Healthcare Foundation cited one powerful example, noting, "As wireless devices and networks become more versatile and capable, they offer expanded opportunities to link patients continuously to the healthcare system. Remote monitoring, particularly of patients with chronic conditions and those recovering from major medical procedures, enables providers to rapidly identify signs of abnormal function and provide timely intervention to avoid larger problems. Indeed, wireless applications may be the most cost-effective way to manage millions of chronically ill patients."