FCC to expand spectrum available for wireless medical use

The Federal Communications Commission published its final rule Sept. 11 in the Federal Register that will allow for the expansion of wireless spectrums to include medical body area network (MBAN) devices.

Using the technology, providers can monitor patients with wireless, rather than wired, sensors that record health information. MBAN technology allows body-worn sensors to  transmit information to a hub located near the patient, which then relays the information over a local area network to locations where healthcare professionals monitor patient data. 

“As the numbers and types of medical radio devices continue to expand, these technologies offer tremendous power to improve the state of healthcare in the U.S.,” the final rule read. “The specific MBAN technology that can be deployed under our revised rules promises to enhance patient care as well as to achieve efficiencies that can reduce overall healthcare costs.”

“Existing wired technologies inevitably result in reduced patient mobility and increased difficulty and delay in transporting patients,” the authors continued. “Caregivers, in turn, can spend inordinate amounts of time managing and arranging monitor cables, as well as gathering patient data.”

The details of the final rule are based largely on the joint proposal, a plan for expanding wireless spectrums submitted to the FCC by health IT vendors GE Healthcare and Philips Healthcare.

The final rule goes into effect Oct. 11. It is available in its entirety on the Government Printing Office website.