Redesigning the Wireless Network for Mobility and the IoT

Two forces are impacting the way modern hospital systems operate: mobility and the IoT. A growing number of devices must connect to hospital networks, from physician/staff mobile devices, medical equipment and facility systems to patient and visitor devices, and a growing array of mobile apps must be supported. The question is, how do we support all these devices/apps dynamically without compromising the integrity and security of the network? How do we also prepare for future, unforeseen demands? This session will take a holistic look at one hospital system’s experiences as it works to accommodate mobility and IoT while preparing for functions such as Wi-Fi calling and unified access. It will review the key challenges these trends present to network infrastructures, describe critical steps that must be taken to ensure ubiquitous, secure, simple access for all, and discuss important patient, caregiver and facility benefits the system is deriving from the changes it has deployed to date.

Learning Objectives: 

• List key network capabilities that hospital systems must put in place to accommodate the growing movement towards mobility
• Identify the steps necessary for ensuring security when adding IoT devices to the network infrastructure
• Discuss the patient, caregiver and operational benefits that can be achieved from moving to a mobile-first hospital environment
• Describe how the wireless network has become a strategic asset to modern hospital systems
• Describe how network policy and priorities must be updated to address IoT wireless technologies