Report: Relaxed hospital wireless policies fuel devices growth
Hospitals have made some adjustments to their policies regarding the use of wireless devices, creating an atmosphere for increased use of these systems, according to Kalorama Information. The healthcare market research publisher said the market for healthcare wireless technologies in the U.S. was valued at $4.4 billion in 2010. Five years ago, the market was $1.7 billion.
In its report, "Wireless Opportunities in Healthcare 2011," the company said wireless devices using wireless personal area networks (WPAN) such as ZigBee and Bluetooth are driving this growth.
“The WPANs are the growth engines because of the mobile nature of healthcare delivery,” said Bruce Carlson, publisher of Kalorama Information. “Some of this growth is due to innovations from device makers to avoid interference, and some is due to the flexibility of hospital policies regarding wireless devices.”
The types of devices increasingly used by healthcare workers include tablet PCs, smartphones and personal digital assistants, but also mobile and desktop computer stations with wireless capabilities. According to Kalorama, manufacturers of these devices are building wireless-enabled devices with 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth or other wireless technologies.
Currently, new devices designed to work in an environment with WiFi, Bluetooth, ZigBee and radiofrequency identification devices have added protection from unwanted interference. In addition, changing hospital industry consensus and a 2007 Mayo Clinic study, which downplayed interference concerns, have led to relaxed policies.
Specific sections of a hospital, such as the operating rooms or intensive care units, are often marked as "cell phone-free," as the possibility for interference exists with some of the technologies. But in other centers, a ban hasn't been implemented or is expected to be lifted due to the inability to reproduce interference.
Kalorama indicated that technology providers must ensure that installed systems are not going to interfere with devices. Or, in some hospital departments, a ban on outside wireless devices will likely continue. For example, competing systems running on the 2.4 or 5 GHz band can cause interference with each other. Some wireless phone systems or headsets use the 2.4 GHz band and WiFi routers may also use the same frequency.
In its report, "Wireless Opportunities in Healthcare 2011," the company said wireless devices using wireless personal area networks (WPAN) such as ZigBee and Bluetooth are driving this growth.
“The WPANs are the growth engines because of the mobile nature of healthcare delivery,” said Bruce Carlson, publisher of Kalorama Information. “Some of this growth is due to innovations from device makers to avoid interference, and some is due to the flexibility of hospital policies regarding wireless devices.”
The types of devices increasingly used by healthcare workers include tablet PCs, smartphones and personal digital assistants, but also mobile and desktop computer stations with wireless capabilities. According to Kalorama, manufacturers of these devices are building wireless-enabled devices with 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth or other wireless technologies.
Currently, new devices designed to work in an environment with WiFi, Bluetooth, ZigBee and radiofrequency identification devices have added protection from unwanted interference. In addition, changing hospital industry consensus and a 2007 Mayo Clinic study, which downplayed interference concerns, have led to relaxed policies.
Specific sections of a hospital, such as the operating rooms or intensive care units, are often marked as "cell phone-free," as the possibility for interference exists with some of the technologies. But in other centers, a ban hasn't been implemented or is expected to be lifted due to the inability to reproduce interference.
Kalorama indicated that technology providers must ensure that installed systems are not going to interfere with devices. Or, in some hospital departments, a ban on outside wireless devices will likely continue. For example, competing systems running on the 2.4 or 5 GHz band can cause interference with each other. Some wireless phone systems or headsets use the 2.4 GHz band and WiFi routers may also use the same frequency.