Wifi for Healthcare: Benefits, Challenges & Solutions 

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Hospitals, clinics, and even senior care homes all rely on quality wifi solutions for their day-to-day operations. 

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Without it, or poor wifi at least, healthcare facilities can’t operate effectively. That’s why having quality, stable, and reliable wifi for healthcare is essential. 

Why Wifi is Essential in Healthcare 

Wifi in healthcare is essential for several core reasons: 

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• Instant Access to Records: Doctors and nurses can update and view charts, prescriptions, and lab results anywhere within the facility. 
• Telemedicine: High-quality wifi enables video consultation that expands access across geographic and mobility barriers. 
• Connected Devices: Infusion pumps, smart beds, wearables, sensors, access controls, etc., are all powered by wifi and provide real-time data to care teams.
• Staff Communication: Messaging apps, alarms, and VoIP phones require wifi to operate and keep the team connected. 

Benefits of Reliable Wifi in Healthcare 

Improved Patient Experience

Nowadays, patients expect wifi. This allows them to keep connected with friends and family, making the visit a lot more pleasant. Not only this, but they remained entertained as they’ll be able to browse social media or stream movies/shows. 

Enhanced Operational Efficiency 

Health professionals can also save time from quality wifi. They can check chart notes, medication lists, etc., from mobile stations. This removes the need for paperwork, ultimately resulting in fewer errors and faster patient data retrieval. 

Real-Time Monitoring & IoT Integration

You need reliable healthcare wifi to power IoT tools. These include everything from connected wearables to smart IV pumps, RFID trackers, remote-monitoring systems, and more. Without wifi, these essential IoT devices are unable to operate. 

Security & Compliance 

Healthcare environments handle sensitive data. Poor wifi can lead to data breaches due to inadequate security measures. With a quality wifi solution, however, you improve security tenfold and comply with HIPAA’s Security Rule. 

Key Challenges of Healthcare Wifi 

With Healthcare wifi, it isn’t as easy as plugging in a router. Several challenges occur because of: 

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• High Device Demand: A hospital bed alone supports 10 to 15 medical devices, so there will be heavy demand on the network. 
• Strict Compliance Requirements: Healthcare IT must comply with the latest rules set by HIPAA to ensure compliance. 
• Cyber Threats and Security Risks: The health sector is a prime target for cyberattacks due to the sensitive data it holds. 
• Coverage Gaps in Large Facilities: Due to the size of some facilities, like a hospital, wifi coverage needs to be carefully planned. 
• Having to Balance Multiple Networks: Often, healthcare facilities have multiple networks, including one for medical equipment, one for staff, another for patients, etc. 

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These challenges can be overcome. You just need a professional to develop a network design tailored to your specific needs. 

How Beacon Can Help Healthcare Facilities 

Here at Beacon, we survey, design, and install wifi for healthcare facilities built for your unique demands. 

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Our enterprise-grade solutions tackle coverage, security, and compliance challenges directly: 

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• Tailored Wifi: Bespoke network designs based on your location, demands, and needs. 
• Network Segmentation: Separate networks to prioritize certain networks and keep data secure. 
• Reliability & Security: Enterprise-grade APs with wifi 6/6E, WPA encryption, and intrusion detection to meet HIPAA requirements. 
• Scalability: Modular, future-ready networks that can easily expand to support thousands of IoT devices. 
• 24/7 Support: Around-the-clock monitoring and quick response to ensure optimal uptime. 

Conclusion 

Reliable wifi for healthcare changes the delivery of services at every level, from patient engagement to surgical innovation. 

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By ensuring fast, wifi connectivity, healthcare facilities can improve patient outcomes, increase efficiency, and meet compliance. 

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To start meeting the demands of modern healthcare wifi today, contact us at Beacon and see how we can help.