More and more modern hospitals now rely on medical telemetry systems for the smooth operation of the ICT and communications technologies that are critical to efficient patient care. Here electronic engineers, Tetsuo Endo, Takashi Kano, and Eisuke Hanada, give an overview of new guidelines for the use of such systems in Japanese hospitals.
The introduction of ICT into hospitals is progressing explosively, but this has led to numerous challenges for the engineers and administrators involved in facility construction. According to a survey by Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), about 50% of Japanese hospitals (those with inpatient facilities of 20 beds or more) have medical telemetry systems, and more than 88% have wireless LANs.1 However, more than 40% of hospitals that have implemented these systems have experienced problems related to wireless communication.
The most common reason for this is problems related to radio wave propagation – including such problems as the necessary signals not being able to reach the intended area. Over 56% of the hospitals surveyed by MIC responded to a question about the management and operation of equipment that uses radio waves by saying that they had no staff with sufficient knowledge for the management and operation of their wireless communication system.
Proper wiring installation essential
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