US Healthcare Sector Embraces Wireless Technology

Faced by a deluge of demands from patients, insurance companies, and the government, US healthcare providers must leverage the capabilities of new wireless technologies, or fall behind their more able competitors. These are the latest findings of Frost and Sullivan (Frost; Mountain View, CA, USA), an international consulting firm.

Mobile device alternatives in the evolving healthcare landscape fall into four major mobile device types; smartphones, tablet devices, push-to-talk communication devices, and machine-to-machine (M2M) remote medical monitoring devices. Smartphone penetration among US healthcare providers continues to surge, since these devices have become more powerful, offering a wide range of medical software applications (“apps”). Caregivers can now use their smartphones to access easily medical reference libraries, view lab results, monitor patient vitals, and access patient electronic health records (EHR).

The second device category (tablet devices), magnify these capabilities with the aid of larger screens, high-resolution displays, and dual cameras. Even familiar push-to-talk devices are augmenting their instant voice communications benefit with new form factors and an array of new capabilities, providing needed functionality in multiple scenarios, including the emergency room and in natural disaster situations. Lastly, M2M remote monitoring devices are starting to bridge the geographic gap between healthcare providers and patients who find it difficult to make in-person office visits. In addition to supporting patients with chronic conditions, M2M technology is being used for personal wellness monitoring and for helping elderly or at-risk individuals to live independently.

“Mobile technology promises to transform healthcare; it all begins with the mobile device, and vendors are working hard to tempt healthcare providers with a broad, and often bewildering, set of choices,” said Jeanine Sterling, a senior analyst at Frost. “Different types of medical staff will have different information and communications needs.”

“The healthcare sector has never been known for being an early adopter of information technology,” added Ms. Sterling. “However, now there are innovative, powerful mobile devices that must be recognized as absolutely key to expanding and improving patient care, to controlling costs, and to complying with regulatory mandates.”

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