adminToday, we are advancing in terms of technologies, but using these latest technologies to their best, we need good internet connectivity. The journey from 2G to 4G has been incredible, and now we are switching to 5G and private networks. When 5G will dominate and cover most of the area in the coming years, what would be the possible changes in different industries?
Any idea?
Undoubtedly, 5G and private networks will hugely impact the future of the different sectors and industries, including healthcare.
Besides upgrading the wireless communication ecosystem, 5G will also enhance global innovation by integrating other latest technologies like edge computing or AI. The demand for more connectivity and data requirements will be addressed by 5G as it offers ultra-fast connections and gigantic bandwidth to boost companies’ efficiency and innovation skills.
Therefore, let us know how 5G will work and save lives by allowing faster response time, sharing patient information, and promising better data security.
Why do we need 5G in Healthcare?
Today, there are several issues faced by the connected healthcare solutions, like:
- Data security issues because of wifi networks and legacy telecom technology.
- Availability of Single-network SIMS and expensive roaming solutions.
- Less accessibility to private 5G/LTE Networks.
Hence, 5G and private networks are most-demanded because of their capability to transfer data at much higher speeds while promising greater security. This will definitely offer countless possibilities within the healthcare ecosystem.
The top benefits of using 5G and private networks for healthcare include:
- Reduced latency for more rapid communication between healthcare providers and patients.
- Unmatched security to ensure that patient data stays secure (especially compared to wifi and Bluetooth alternatives).
Where is 5G Making an Influence?
5G is going to impact almost every sector, but five primary sectors that will be influenced by it are:
1: Wearables and Connected Medical Devices:
The wearables market is growing rapidly, and apparently, its adoption in Healthcare is the highest. These IoT-enabled smart devices support patients and healthcare providers monitor important biometric data and assure prompt emergency response time.
Some of the devices which are helping healthcare centers are:
- Glucose monitoring devices
- Cardiac monitoring devices
- Fitness trackers
- Smartwatches
2: Connected Emergency Services:
IoT-connected ambulances can be labeled as the future of emergency response. 5G empowers doctors and paramedics to cooperate in real-time even when they are at distant places. These smart ambulances offer more details about patients and their health history promptly than ever before; this plays a crucial role in changing how emergency services can be delivered.
3: Drone Delivery of Medical Supplies:
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world, paralyzing every section, drones were employed for remote virus testing and to deliver medical supplies. These drones were primarily used to support underserved societies worldwide, but 5G in Healthcare plays an important role in assuring these kinds of use cases stay connected in the future, particularly within cities.
4: Employee Panic Buttons:
Hospitals all over the world are taking advanced steps to ensure safety and peace within the campus. They are arming nurses with employee safety devices- “panic buttons” responding to news of hospital violence.
Three in ten nurses who participated in a survey conducted on violence within hospitals shared that there is an increase in violence cases at their hospitals. These cases are the result of staff shortages and strict visitor restrictions. Panic buttons must remain connected; both 5G and private networks within hospitals can ensure these devices stay functional as they greatly support employees’ safety.
5: Hospital and Medical Campuses:
Demand for 5G and private networks in Healthcare is increasing day by day. Private LTE/5G Networks has improved security features, and many hospitals and medical premises can use these private networks to assure data security and HIPAA compliance. Private 5G/LTE networks are usually deployed as a replacement for wifi, which lacks enhanced security for transferring health and personal data over the Internet.
5G will transform Healthcare from head to toe:
The intrusion of the COVID-19 pandemic made us realize the importance of the connected healthcare industry and showed us how the latest technologies could evolve healthcare. It also emphasized the importance of monitoring and treating patients from remote areas using virtual connections.
5G will surely revolutionize every aspect of healthcare, from wearables to emergency services, from supply chain optimization to remote diagnostics to electronic medical records management, from panic buttons to drones, hospitals, and medical campuses.
As per the report on 5G in Healthcare, PwC shared that it is not expecting extensive use until 2025 in many markets. When widespread deployment happens, PwC predicts 5G-compatible devices being utilized to monitor bed occupancy levels, the movement of physicians, nurses, and patients around the hospital premises, and wearable medical devices. So, we can conclude that by reducing latency, improving reliability, and boosting security, new healthcare use cases will benefit from the availability of 5G and private networks.
