The HIMSS12 Annual Conference and Exhibition is just around the corner. Leading up to this event we have been looking at the impact and growth of wireless – especially in healthcare where DAS (distributed antenna system) is recognized as one of the key new technologies. For hospitals, wireless has become mission-critical so let’s look at high-availability wireless in terms of Everything, Everywhere, Everytime.
Everything
For many hospitals, providing in-building wireless coverage has meant designing and installing as many as 5 separate wireless networks. Every network is installed with different cabling and antennas, each requiring maintenance and surveillance. In contrast, with a broadband DAS, one infrastructure can be RF designed and installed to deliver one, two or virtually every wireless that is consumed in today’s hospitals.
Everywhere
Wireless coverage and signal quality are not only hallmarks of high-availability wireless, but are performance measures that should be guaranteed. Poor wireless coverage not only frustrates users and generates non-value added IT help desk calls, but it can also degrade overall system performance. To an end user, wireless coverage is about the ability to use their wireless device of choice wherever they require in a facility. To meet this expectation, a wireless solution should be designed to provide the required signal level via ubiquitous coverage for all wireless services in the facility.
Everytime
Wireless capacity and system reliability are the final cornerstones of a high-availability wireless solution. With the increased adoption of smartphones, iPads and other devices, wireless device density is increasing concern. While a user may have 5 bars of coverage, more and more wireless networks are becoming overloaded and unable to process traffic. Wireless traffic management is key new strategy in maintaining connectivity and optimizing service levels over time to maximize a wireless investment.
Everything, Everywhere, Everytime. For many hospitals, these are key attributes for a mission-critical wireless deployment. Read about your colleagues experience in deploying DAS for key wireless services in a collection of newly published interviews:
- Carilion Clinic – Wireless: Strategic or just another cost?
- VCU Medical Center – Could wireless IT Help Desk calls be history?
- University Medical Center Southern Nevada – 24/7/365 Wi-Fi Availability?
We hope that we can then continue the conversation at HIMMS12. We will be located in booth 4623 with our partner, CommScope, and ready to talk about DAS or other Black Box Network Services.
