Healthcare tech adoption is going to continue to grow rapidly. We are seeing no shortage of new devices entering the market for use in telehealth, patient monitoring, day-to-day check-ups, etc. Most of these devices are WiFi enabled, meaning either that the WiFi network is their primary network, or that they connect to healthcare networks via wired systems but still depend on the WiFi for maintenance updates. Similarly, vendors and IT professionals might receive performance analytics and statistics for devices, whether WiFi or wired, through WiFi networks. This is why the expectation is that WiFi networks will grow in complexity and density throughout 2024. This is especially true in regards to virtual health consultations, and is why automated network platforms will become increasingly popular.
Virtual Health Consultations
Telehealth is here to stay. We have the technology for it. Patients and providers are growing more comfortable with it; and so, the change expected in this arena is the increasing availability of telehealth appointments.
This means a few things:
- Healthcare technology designed to improve virtual consultations will enter the market.
- Healthcare networks will need to be optimized in real time to support these appointments and technologies.
This technology depends on video collaboration applications. These apps utilize real time voice and video data. In doing so, they place networks under more of a strain because there isn’t any leeway for interference or delays of any sort. While some network issues might go unnoticed when sending emails or using the network in other ways, problems are immediately apparent during telehealth appointments. In order to provide care, practitioners need seamless communication.
Therefore, as telehealth grows, healthcare will depend more on automated network platforms to ensure optimal network support at all times.
Automated Network Platforms
Automated network platforms automate the detection, notification, and mitigation of network issues. These platforms are installed on premise and work in real time, analyzing all network activity. WiFi automation platforms monitor and optimize the WiFi network, while network automation platforms optimize both the wired and WiFi networks.
Optimization is provided through both passive monitoring, as well as proactive testing. These platforms also make it possible for IT to monitor networks and troubleshoot issues from any location at any time. Issues are caught the moment they occur, IT is immediately notified, and solutions can be implemented there and then (depending on the root cause of the problem). The end result is a network that remains optimized continuously, boosting user experience.
Adoption of these platforms is expected to grow as healthcare providers rely more and more on networks to meet patient needs. This breakdown explains why:
- IT requires complete network visibility to safeguard reliable networks.
- Visibility is provided with the real time analysis of every connected device and application.
- Real time analysis is made possible by analyzing the thousands of data packets sent throughout networks every second. This is not a task that human IT professionals can perform on their own. They require automated support.
2024 Healthcare
Patient-focused care is always a priority, which makes WiFi and wired networks a priority. Healthcare practices must ensure their networks are more than capable of handling everything that will be asked of them in 2024. Doing so will help boost user experience across the board, improving the lives of patients and providers.
