Transforming Health Care Through Innovative Network Technologies

Health care is experiencing a transformational shift in how patients receive care and in how health care enterprises operate. The rapid influx of innovative network technologies has changed patient outcomes, patient expectations, and the day-to-day routine of health care providers. Health care enterprises are choosing to be at the forefront of this transformation, leading the way in adopting and implementing these technologies to improve all aspects of the patient journey.

Human Touch is Still Important

While the medical technology market continues to grow, no technology, no matter how innovative, will replace doctors, nurses, researchers, administrators, or IT professionals. Instead, the technologies mentioned here and others on the market empower providers to meet the needs of all patients better.

Each health care organization must select the technologies that best benefit its patients and providers. There are thousands to choose from, and not every technology is right for every department or practice. The human touch is still the most important aspect of patient care. If a device or solution doesn’t make life easier for its human users, it will be replaced.

Improving Communication and Collaboration

Telehealth and virtual consultations are some of the most recognized new technologies. Patients can now connect with specialists from anywhere in the world, undergo virtual physical therapy or virtual counseling, or discuss acute or chronic conditions from their homes. Additionally, researchers and other providers can more easily collaborate on everything from cures to specific diseases to support for an individual patient.

These consultations are made possible thanks to secure, efficient video applications growing more robust because of advancements like 5G, Wi-Fi 6, and 6E devices. As long as networks are reliable and support seamless connectivity, video collaboration is a technology worth adopting by all health care practices.

Personalizing Patient Experiences

Medical IoT technologies like implantable sensors and wearable devices constantly monitor vitals, heart rate, sleeping patterns, brain activity, glucose levels, and more. The data collected by these sensors can be shared with medical professionals, allowing for proactive and personalized care.

These technologies can only be used while a patient is in the hospital, to monitor everyday health, or periodically in response to certain health questions.

Enhancing Efficiency and Reducing Costs

Network technologies that help patients and providers perform tasks such as checking in for appointments, ordering and collecting medications, and paying bills can make some of the business side of medicine run more efficiently.

Network monitoring technologies—ones that collect and analyze data from connected devices—perform a valuable service when they report end-user experience metrics. These metrics tell IT professionals if a hospital’s specific network meets its unique user demands. If not, the insights provided support decision makers in determining how to best use their available budget to change the network. This might result in a network design modification or the adoption of a new technology. Either way, the end result is a more efficient, budget-friendly, and supportive network.

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) make it possible to analyze vast amounts of data and deliver usable insights to providers, administrative staff, and researchers. These technologies can help perform mundane administrative tasks, answer basic questions or help schedule appointments, and help track insurance payments. We are starting to see these technologies trained on extremely large data sets, such as millions of radiology images, and used to help predict warning signs of certain diseases.

On the network monitoring side, AI-driven Wi-Fi automation solutions help analyze the performance of a health care organization’s Wi-Fi and wired networks, and all network-connected technologies, including IoT devices and video conferencing applications. These solutions ensure that the network is up to the task of meeting the demand placed on it. No connected devices will perform as needed without a reliable network, making these solutions necessary for trouble-free connectivity.

Ensuring Data Security and Privacy

The more complex health care networks become, the more risk there is for a data breach or other security risk. Network technologies that help analyze network performance and behavior and recognize security risks are critical. They help support HIPAA compliance assurance and keep patient data secure. These technologies automatically alert IT to active or potential network breaches, allowing teams to resolve issues faster than ever.

Investing in Employee Training and Development

Thanks to innovations such as AR and VR, employee training and development can be much more immersive and hands-on. This can help employees feel more engaged and comfortable.

The addition of video conferencing applications means that professional development can include talks and training from experts on the other side of the world without requiring anyone to travel. This saves money and, thanks to less schedule disruption, gives experts and trainees more opportunities to attend.

The Case for Patient-Centered Innovations

From telemedicine to patient monitoring, these innovative network technologies are transforming how health care is delivered, making it more accessible, efficient, and personalized. Health care enterprises that want to improve patient outcomes and stay ahead in the market are prioritizing technology adoption. Leading by example, they are showing all health care organizations how these technologies lay the foundation for patient-centered care.