More and more, hospitals and healthcare professionals are finding wireless is the way to go for better patient care and more efficient operation.
Busy health professionals are already using electronics to improve patient care. Many practices have electronic medical record systems (EMR) which allow electronic billing, scheduling, and sharing of secure patient information, with experts predicting that EMR will be the standard within a decade. Mobile devices such as Notebook PCs, Tablet PCs, and Handheld PCs have become popular tools for doctors and nurses when moving from a paper to electronic environment.
Now wireless marries all these tools and makes them as mobile as doctors and nurses. With wireless, doctors can remotely access patient records, order lab tests, x-rays or prescriptions, and go online for more information or consult with a colleague—all from the exam room, bedside or even at home. Now nurses can update patient data on the spot, without having to return to a workstation for manual data entry.
And you can stay in touch with your patients and your medical practice from many offices, hospitals, airports, convention centers and Wi-Fi Hotspots. Soon, airplanes will be wireless-connected as well: Some say they will even introduce broadband Internet access for passengers on some flights before the end of 2008.
Wireless networks are a bonus for private practice and smaller clinics and hospitals because they are easy and less expensive to set up than a wired network. Many of today's electronic tools come wireless equipped or can be easily and inexpensively made wireless.
With new products hitting the market on an almost daily basis, there's a myriad of mobile solutions to choose from. This Health Mobility How-To Guide delivers some practical advice on how wireless and mobile technology can extend and support your practice with no strings attached.
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