New technology in the world of healthcare isn’t just about being on the cutting edge of the latest trends. It’s about how technology can improve care and expand the reach of quality care through unprecedented ways. The latest in his 5G technology, the increase in IoT devices, and the right network architecture create the perfect combination of innovations for today’s healthcare sector. Faster speeds and more connected devices are enabling healthcare professionals to improve both the quality and scope of care, and some are already doing so.
5G and healthcare
Many in the healthcare industry are well aware of what 5G can do when combined with the right healthcare use cases. In 2019, surgeons performed China’s first 5G-enabled remote surgery from 30 miles away. At the 2019 Mobile World Congress, surgeon Antonio de Lacey remotely assisted another team of surgeons and anesthesiologists as they operated on a patient at a hospital clinic in Barcelona. The surgeon directing the surgery indicated the area to be removed on a tablet, along with other recommendations such as the exact location to perform the surgery, on a video captured by a laparoscopic camera. At the same time, the surgical team displayed images of the surgery on a screen near the operating table. 5G technology has played a central role in bringing new capabilities to the medical world.
According to research, the global 5G technology market could grow to $128 billion by 2026. These predictions could signal the expansion of 5G technology into previously unreachable regions. For the healthcare industry, this is critical as it allows surgeries like those performed at Mobile World Congress, with high-level surgeons, to reach areas where premium care was previously unavailable. there is a possibility.
But why is 5G technology particularly suited to improving the quality and scope of care, as opposed to Wi-Fi or LTE? Provides delayed connectivity and increased bandwidth. Interrupting a procedure can cause complications for the patient, reduce the quality of care, and in the worst case, endanger life. 5G technology can help minimize these disruptions.
IoT and healthcare
The speed and low latency that 5G offers is also important for the recent increase in IoT devices in the healthcare sector. According to recent data, the IoT in healthcare market is expected to grow from $127 billion in 2023 to $289.2 billion by 2030. This means that the number of healthcare workers, facilities, and patients that rely on IoT devices will only increase, requiring a network with the ability to support them. they.
Connected medical devices such as heart rate monitors, pulse oximeters, and blood sugar monitors allow medical professionals to track analytics so they can determine patient status and quickly determine appropriate next steps. Wearable sensors that track movement and pain during telemedicine physical therapy will also play an increasingly important role as the IoT healthcare market expands. Other of his IoT healthcare applications may include automated body temperature checks and the ability to track visitors to medical facilities. This saves staff time on manual checks, reduces staff overwork and prevents burnout.
When these devices are running on a 5G network, there will be minimal disruption to communication between patient devices and doctors who need to assess the patient’s condition. This can be very important for some patients who have difficulty leaving their home to see their doctor regularly. With the help of 5G, they can continue to receive high-quality remote care and a patient experience that is compatible with today’s mobility.
The potential of private 5G in healthcare
In addition to all the benefits of 5G technology, the increased reliance on IoT devices means that healthcare organizations will often need as much control over their networks as possible.
If you walk through a healthcare facility today and look up, you’ll likely see Wi-Fi wireless access points dotting the hallways. As more IoT devices are added to provide healthcare monitoring, more bandwidth is required on the LAN. However, with so many devices competing for network bandwidth, Wi-Fi has its limits.
Wi-Fi, which uses radio frequencies to transmit signals between access points, is considered a “best effort” connection. However, because Wi-Fi is readily available, users on Wi-Fi networks compete for priority, and the speed or quality of data delivery is not guaranteed. For example, if one user tries to stream her X-rays over her Wi-Fi connection, that activity prevents other users from completing data-intensive tasks and creates operational issues. There is a possibility. Wi-Fi is susceptible to interference, so adding more access points to support additional IoT devices will make the connection even less reliable.
In addition to its unreliable nature, Wi-Fi typically uses only a username and password for security, but not the layer of security policies that can be enabled through the PCN. Security measures associated with Wi-Fi are often limited, which can lead to harmful security breaches. For healthcare facilities, the best path to this control may be through private cellular networks. A private cellular network is a corporate-owned network (in this case, the owner is a hospital or health system) that combines the control and fixed costs of WiFi with the flexibility, security, and macro network benefits of a cellular network.
Private 5G networks will allow healthcare providers and hospitals to take advantage of a secure, private network with the low latency and high bandwidth that 5G offers. This is important for several reasons. Private 5G networks give organizations more control over what data should be prioritized and transferred over low-latency networks. For example, a hospital may decide that it needs real-time imaging over a private 5G network so it can diagnose patients faster and start treatment as soon as possible. Equally important, within a private 5G network, healthcare organizations can more easily ensure the privacy of private patient data required for HIPAA compliance. Private 5G incorporates a number of security measures into the mobile phone network.
For example, to access a private 5G network, your device must have the correct physical SIM card or eSIM. This reduces the risk of traditional credential-based attacks. Also, the configuration of the user and her SIM on a private 5G network makes it possible to separate the processing and storage of data from the mobile network. Additionally, with the right private 5G solution, a healthcare facility’s IT personnel can customize security policies that establish rules regarding when and where specific devices can be online.
In addition to security and network reliability, private 5G can also expand the surface area of care that healthcare providers can provide. Also, within this private 5G pop-up network, a healthcare provider can separate security from the public network and ensure patient data meets her HIPAA compliance. Dedicated network slices with SD-WAN ensure data compliance even when data must traverse public carrier networks.
5G and emergency medicine
5G has a role for fixed medical locations and patients receiving treatment at home, but it also has a role for EMS vehicles responding to emergencies, transporting patients to hospitals, and communicating with healthcare providers under stress. play a role. situation. EMS vehicles provide resilient coverage when traveling from the emergency scene to the hospital, faster download speeds when accessing patient data, and minimal interruptions when communicating patient status and information to the hospital. need to be suppressed.
For example, hospitals can create designated bandwidth so paramedics can seamlessly communicate with healthcare workers until a patient enters the emergency room. This could include video calls to discuss a patient’s condition, real-time data transfer from the vehicle’s diagnostic technology, and even remote procedures where an emergency physician guides the procedure remotely.
Strengthen quality healthcare
The use of wireless technology makes healthcare systems more efficient, reduces the distance between professionals and patients, and reduces saturation of healthcare services. This reduces the daily burden on healthcare workers while improving the way they care for patients. As 5G technology grows, we expect to see more use cases for IoT devices and private networks to improve the quality of healthcare.
About Robin Mahnke-Cassidy
Robin Manke-Cassidy is Cradlepoint’s Product and Solutions Marketing Leader. She joins Cradlepoint after holding various roles in product management and marketing in the mobile, network and client areas. Previously, she worked in Enterprise IT Management for 20 years, with roles in Access, Security, Data Center, Server Management, Development, and Networking. Follow her on Twitter @robinmcassidy.
