Twenty-first century healthcare runs on digital technology. From electronic health records and telemedicine services to robot-assisted surgery, a groundswell of technology advancements have modernized the delivery of patient care. In order to take full advantage of these advances, a number of healthcare providers are implementing digital transformation, with 92 percent citing that achieving a better patient experience is their top goal.

Yet, as hospitals transform their facilities and IT systems to enable innovative new services and technologies, a fundamental consideration is how to provide reliable, secure access to digital resources for hospital staff, caregivers, and patients.

Access Everywhere

Traditionally, hospitals and healthcare facilities have relied on wired local area networks (LANs) to provide secure, dedicated connectivity. However, many cutting-edge digital technologies require mobile availability to enable real-time information exchange for faster diagnoses and shorter waiting times. Alternatively, Wi-Fi networks often experience traffic congestion and interference due to a sudden influx of people and devices competing for bandwidth, impacting staff communication, patient monitoring, and other critical applications.

As mobile network technology continues to evolve, advances in 5G infrastructure and spectrum availability are creating new alternatives for robust, dedicated, on-the-go connectivity. Private 5G/ LTE networks provide healthcare facilities with a more secure, pervasive connectivity experience, enabling sufficient bandwidth for smartphones, laptops, and connected medical devices to work all the time, everywhere, throughout buildings and across campus.

Private 5G networks offer the advantages of mobility along with reliable security, ultra-low latency, lightning-fast data speeds, dedicated bandwidth, and scalable capacity. The capability to quickly and securely transmit large amounts of data, such as medical images or patient records, enables more effective diagnosis and treatment. In this way, hospitals can harness the power of 5G connectivity with peace of mind, allowing them to maintain HIPAA compliance and easing security concerns related to data breaches and ransomware attacks. Plus, when using Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) frequency bands, healthcare facilities can ensure 24×7 availability of mission-critical medical devices and applications without massive budget concerns.

Transformational Healthcare

With the growing adoption of private 5G networks, the healthcare industry is poised for substantial improvements in care today, while setting the stage for revolutionary advancements in the future. For example, a more reliable, secure exchange of information enables improvements in the patient intake process, healthcare staff communications, and transmission of diagnostic data and digital health records – all of which contributes to faster response times, efficient use of resources, more accurate record-keeping, and the best possible patient care experience.

Due to the massive connectivity and ultra-low latency of private 5G, this technology is ideal for remote surgeries using robotics and virtual reality (VR)/ augmented reality (AR) simulations. Likewise, the large bandwidth capacity is well-suited to conducting mobile ultrasound exams, remote medical imaging, and video consultations with home-bound patients. Hospitals also could use 5G connectivity for an interactive display in patients’ rooms that functions as a digital whiteboard, entertainment, and environmental control.

Additionally, private 5G networks offer the robust connectivity needed for a myriad of applications made possible by the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). These use cases range from wearable smart sensors that continuously monitor patient vital signs and notify nursing staff and doctors in real-time, to diagnostic equipment maintenance, to monitoring temperature and other environmental conditions for medicine storage, thereby reducing waste and ensuring patient safety.

Revolutionizing Patient Care

With access to the secure, pervasive connectivity enabled by private 5G networks, caregivers have the opportunity to vastly improve the patient experience to ensure the best possible overall care outcomes. To realize this digital transformation vision, however, it’s important for hospitals and healthcare facilities to consider how their building lay-out and materials will impact 5G connectivity and coverage. For example, modern building materials, lead-lined walls in radiological departments, stainless steel surfaces in operating rooms, and large diagnostic equipment can all impede 5G signals.

By incorporating private 5G network infrastructure with an existing in-building distributed antenna system (DAS), such as the neutral host SOLiD ALLIANCE 5G DAS solution, hospital IT professionals can deliver seamless private 5G coverage regardless of building configuration. With a fiber-to-the-edge DAS solution like the ALLIANCE edgeROU, private 5G signals can be carried over the same common fiber infrastructure as public 5G, bringing connectivity to the edge of the network for peak performance and reliability.

Private 5G advancements are revolutionizing the way that healthcare professionals deliver patient care, improving the overall patient experience. To learn how SOLiD can help you get a healthy start on your digital transformation journey, visit: www.solid.com/us/industries/healthcare.