Page 12 - DCAP311_DCAP607_WIRELESS_NETWORKS

Wireless Networks

Notes need to take advantage of 3G type services whereby a cellular company (like AT&T, Verizon,
T-Mobile, Sprint/Nextel) provide data access between the handheld device and the companies
back-end network.

Benefits

A voice over WLAN system offers tremendous benefits to organizations, such as hospitals and
warehouses. The primary benefits are mobility and cost savings. For example, nurses and doctors
within a hospital can maintain voice communications at any time at less cost as compared to
cellular service.

1.3.3 Inventory Control and Healthcare

A high performance wireless network can help hospitals in numerous ways. Many benefits of
wireless focus around improving quality care, decreasing hospital expenses, and increasing
communication between patients, doctors and hospital staff. Here are just three main benefits of
mobility in healthcare:
1. Asset Tracking & Inventory Management: With RFID technology, hospitals can easily
reduce the cost associated with loss of medical equipment, such as wheel chairs, infusion
pumps and computers-on-wheels. Real Time Tracking capability also allows hospital staff
the ability to locate these items quickly. This helps eliminate time spent wasted looking for
particular items.
One of the most effective ways to increase profits is to control or reduce costs. For a hospital,
real-time inventory management plays a strong role in cost control. With a clear view into
the supply chain, hospitals can control the movement of their assets and maximize the
utility of stock locations, such as available or used prescription drug counts.
2. Quality of Patient care and Clinical Communications: There are many ways that wireless
can help increase the quality of patient care. The mobility that doctors have allow them to
be present with any patient in any hospital via video conferencing and allows them to view
real time patient information instantly. As mobility increases the efficiency of hospital staff,
patient care becomes more focused, providing increasing quality and standards.
Better communication means better care. When clinicians communicate easily, they can
diagnose and treat patients more quickly. Clinicians get lab results as soon as they’re
ready. They can easily access vast medical databases from their smartphones, tablets and
other mobile devices. Ultimately, patient outcomes improve.
3. Patient & Staff Safety: Using Wi-Fi RTLS can easily reduce the amount of safety incidents
and improve safety and peace of mind for clinical staff. Many patients, including psychiatric
patients, trauma patients and the elderly may pose a risk to themselves by wandering or
leaving their hospital bed. Keeping track of any wandering patients can sometimes be the
difference between life or death for that patient.
By leveraging a hospitals existing Wi-Fi network, Wi-Fi RTLS locates all tagged patients
at any time, anywhere within the footprint of the network. If a patient is in his room or on
his assigned floor, RTLS will locate them. Should a patient walk into the fire escape, Wi-Fi
RTLS will alert staff and security about the event.

1.3.4 Education and Real Estate

Wireless networks will play an important role in education. New educational models and
wireless architectures have been proposed to enhance collaborative training. Wireless networks
can provide a dynamic educational environment. However, the lack of fixed infrastructure in

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