Simon Frumkin, CEO of connectivity infrastructure-as-a-service provider Freshwave argues that healthcare is moving towards not just digitalisation, but a device-led approach that demands better connectivity.
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Medical and connectivity concept
As healthcare technology embraces the rise of digital connectivity, the role of SIM-enabled medical devices is becoming increasingly significant. These devices, spanning from infusion pumps to portable ECGs, ventilators and ultrasound devices, are not just transforming care delivery but revolutionising it, offering unprecedented operational efficiency and flexibility in patient treatment. These devices are versatile, able to move seamlessly across various hospital wards and even extend care beyond traditional healthcare environments. However, if we are to realise the true potential of these innovations, we need to support them with a strong and secure cellular network.
No portability without the right cellular connectivity
In healthcare settings such as hospitals, portability of medical equipment brings a wealth of benefits to patient care. Devices that can easily be moved from one location to another offer the flexibility to treat patients wherever they may be, whether that’s in different wards of a hospital or even outside traditional healthcare settings.However, the promise of portability hinges on consistent and seamless connectivity. Here, SIM-enabled medical devices come into their own. Wi-Fi uses unregulated spectrum, so there’s no quality-of-service guarantee and no prioritisation for the different kinds of traffic using it. And because hospitals tend to be high-footfall places, the Wi-Fi is often overburdened, making it unsuitable for critical communications, especially when people are on the move around the building or campus. In contrast, cellular networks offer robust, consistent coverage. By relying on SIM-enabled cellular connectivity, these portable devices benefit from reliable flexibility and ensure the integrity and security of important medical data.
Take portable ECGs as an example. They enable real-time cardiac monitoring capabilities both across and outside the bounds of traditional healthcare settings, facilitating ongoing care and early intervention across diverse environments. This offers a significant improvement in quality of life for individuals with chronic conditions, who would otherwise be restricted to stationary devices within the walls of a hospital. Portable ventilators, which can provide critically ill patients with breathing support across a hospital, are another example, as they can ensure that patients receive quick support with minimal disruption to any existing treatments.
It’s not just patients who benefit. SIM-enabled devices can also relieve time and resource pressures on healthcare providers. Consider the case of smart infusion pumps. These pumps, equipped with SIM technology, allow for real-time monitoring and adjustment of medication doses. This increases accuracy, minimises errors, and provides healthcare professionals with the ability to manage medications more efficiently. Patients no longer need to be confined to a bed, connected to IV drips, for their medication to be accurately administered and monitored. As a result, this alleviates strain on valuable hospital resources, like bed availability, leading to a more streamlined approach to medication management.
Cellular networks are safer, too, offering an extra layer of security for sensitive medical data, making them more secure than Wi-Fi. Through encryption methods that scramble transmitted data, and SIM authentication that verifies device identity, they significantly reduce the risk of unauthorised access. These features make cellular networks less susceptible to common security threats like data interception or unauthorised intrusion, thereby safeguarding patient privacy and the integrity of medical information.
Connectivity infrastructure options: Distributed antenna systems and private networks
Effective connectivity infrastructure is essential for the success of SIM-enabled healthcare, but hospitals, with their intricate layouts, thick walls, and high-footfall areas, present unique connectivity challenges. When seconds count in medical emergencies, the reliability of the network becomes a top priority.
In a hospital setting, there are two options for addressing these issues: through enhancing public cellular networks, and through setting up private networks.
A public cellular network is the ordinary network that we connect our mobile phones to. In a hospital setting, this is what allows practitioners to message one another using medical communications apps or update electronic patient records. It’s what allows patients to easily make voice calls to loved ones, as well as stay entertained by using their cellular data in the same way as they normally would, whether that’s surfing the net, keeping up with social media or watching YouTube. A cellular network means they can simply use their phones as normal, without having to go through any kind of log in process as is usually the case when using Wi-Fi. In a healthcare setting, these cellular networks are enhanced by a distributed antenna system (DAS), which connects directly into the mobile operators’ core networks, guaranteeing the quality of service.
A private network, on the other hand, offers a more bespoke solution which may be more appropriate for advanced medical equipment and critical communications. It’s a dedicated network, which uses either 4G or 5G technology, to provide coverage for a specific area, organisation, or use. In contrast to high-traffic public networks with tens of thousands of connected devices, a private network ensures that network coverage is reserved for authorised devices only. This reserved and controlled access not only enhances the efficiency and reliability of data transmission for advanced medical devices but also elevates the level of network security and privacy to be even stronger than public cellular networks.
Cellular connectivity is critical in shaping tomorrow’s healthcare
As healthcare systems increasingly embrace digital solutions, the significance of SIM-enabled devices is hard to ignore. These offer the dual benefits of making hospital settings more adaptable and extending the reach of healthcare beyond traditional environments. However, realising these benefits hinges on the existence of reliable and secure cellular network infrastructure. Whether it's enhancing existing public cellular networks or developing bespoke private networks, the focus must be on secure, reliable, and efficient connectivity. By doing so, we not only improve the standard of patient care but also make better use of essential hospital resources.
