Necessary reliance on digital health options during the pandemic has propelled the industry to explore and adopt options for providing healthcare that depend on technology that can quickly close gaps in time and information. The pressure for healthcare systems to evolve is great and paths are varied. Health innovators must keep in mind that digitalization can go awry if not implemented strategically, leading to data silos and cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Healthcare providers must invest in connectivity solutions in order to reap the full benefits of digital transformation. The following are some technology investments healthcare providers should consider in 2024 in order to lay the groundwork for improving care and operations.
Connectivity and 5G is the keystone to digital transformation
Healthcare providers have to contend with mountains of data - including demographics; genomics; clinical history; medications; laboratory data; sensors; and vitals - not to mention administrative, financial, inventory and environmental data. Transferring files in healthcare can be a huge undertaking given the size of some files, such as diagnostic imaging, which demands a lot of bandwidth to process. Often, the upshot of this processing lag is that data ends up in silos in other locations, such as laboratories, which can lead to delays in patient treatments.
A truly connected hospital needs low latency and high capacity in order to expedite the transfer of large files and processing of data in general-- it is part of the reason why we at Verizon Business are seeing investment from the medical community in networks, specifically 5G. With download speeds up to 100 times faster than 4G networks, 5G networks effectively unlock the aforementioned data silos. A fast, reliable network also helps facilitate an Internet of Medial Things (IoMT) infrastructure including a real-time view of inventory.
A 5G network may also facilitate a better experience of remote video consultation services between patients and doctors and other healthcare professionals. Clinicians may use video feedback to check if patients are taking the proper medication with the right dosage. High-definition video, which demands a high-capacity network like 5G to stream with little to no lag, can improve the visual accuracy of remote diagnosis.
How IoMT can improve operational efficiency via asset tracking and predictive maintenance
Connecting medical equipment and devices to a 5G network through IoMT technology goes a long way toward creating a smarter, more efficient hospital. There is substantial time and personnel resources squandered on locating medical equipment. For example, a third of nurses spend an hour each shift looking for equipment. That adds up to about 20 hours a month. That is a lot of organizational waste, especially when you consider several to dozens of nurses might be searching for equipment on any given day.
With GPS-enabled IoMT devices connected to a 5G network, however, nurses and other healthcare professionals can have access to a real-time view of available inventory. With this technology, finding the equipment they need takes a fraction of the time. With advanced tools, such as AI and predictive modeling, hospital administrators can also anticipate when equipment might need maintenance, helping improve resource management and may even extend the lifespan of certain equipment.
Private 5G for customization,control, and security
Connecting more hospital equipment and systems to a network comes with great advantages, but it can also open up potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities. A 5G network is more secure and reliable than a 4G network, but if you need additional speed and security, private 5G is a great option. Since hospitals have sensitive patient information and critical life-saving systems at their disposal, security is especially important. Private 5G is a dedicated, localized network that offers high availability and high reliability and can be dedicated to specific functions or areas. A private onsite 5G network processes and stores data locally to support the most critical and sensitive applications. As such, private 5G delivers low latency and enhanced security - which is optimal in securing the connected hospital of the future.
Setting your priorities
As healthcare administrators are looking at 2024 tech investments, they should seriously consider integrating private 5G, MEC and private MEC.
- Private 5G - is great for additional speed and security and is a customized solution that offers the best of LTE and 5G, is fully managed, monitored and maintained by Verizon.
- 5G Edge - can open up a whole new world of possibilities including artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), automated diagnostics, real-time monitoring and control, and so much more.
- 5G Edge with MEC - is a dedicated platform installed on premises to enable support for a hospital’s most critical and latency-sensitive applications.
Whatever your overall goals are, it’s imperative when undergoing digital transformation to implement holistically with security in mind. Secure as you digitalize. Protect as you connect. It may take a little more thought at the outset, but it’ll pay dividends in the long run. Digitalization isn’t just about modernizing. It’s about improving. That takes strategic thinking.