Wi-Fi 7 in hospitals: Improving the patient and healthcare professional experience

Wi-Fi 7 in Hospitals

Hospitals are some of the most important places in society – they maintain the health and wellbeing of all people, so they deserve to have the best digital transformation. Updating and improving the way hospitals operate is critical for many stakeholders – medical professionals, hospital staff, patients and their families – there is a long list of people who benefit from technological innovation.

One of the key areas of digital transformation in the workplace, which can dramatically change the efficiency of hospital services, is wireless connectivity. Improved device management, patient care, and operational efficiency are all impacted by changes to a wireless network, and Wi-Fi 7 technology is designed precisely for these improvements.

Wi-Fi 7 Technology

Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) is the latest generation of Wi-Fi standards, also known as extremely high transmission rate (EHT), offering higher data capacity and lower latency than its predecessors. Throughput of Wi-Fi 7 networks is expected to increase to over 46 Gbps – approximately four times that of Wi-Fi 6 or ten times that of Wi-Fi 5. This capability is crucial in hospitals, where large amounts of data need to be transferred, such as MRIs, CT scans, and other advanced medical studies that require real-time transmission of large files for rapid diagnoses. The low latency promised by Wi-Fi 7 is vital for real-time applications such as telemedicine, robot-assisted surgery, or remote patient monitoring. These applications require instant and reliable response without delays, which is critical for emergency medical care.

Wi-Fi 7 introduces dynamic smart antennas that can flexibly work in omnidirectional, wide coverage, or high-density modes, maximizing performance and optimizing user experience in dense environments. In a hospital, there are hundreds of connected devices, from medical equipment and patient monitors to staff wearables, and Wi-Fi 7 can efficiently manage these massive connections, improving efficiency and ensuring each device has the necessary network quality.

Thanks to end-to-end encryption options, this technology offers increased security, which is essential in the healthcare sector as it is critical for the protection of personal and confidential patient data. Finally, dynamic power management enables greener networks that can display the energy consumption of the entire network in several dimensions, and by applying hibernation or dynamic power saving techniques, much more powerful, flexible and sustainable networks are achieved.

Wi-Fi 7 Scenarios

Hospitals will improve across a wide range of services thanks to the advantages of Wi-Fi 7; here are some of them:

1. Advanced Telemedicine : Wi-Fi 7 will be crucial for real-time medical consultations, enabling seamless HD video conferencing, visual assessments, more accurate remote diagnoses, and the sharing of medical data.
2. Medical Device Communication : Wi-Fi 7 improves the ability of surgical robots and other advanced medical devices to communicate in real time without delay. In critical procedures, such as robotic-assisted surgery or remote surgery, where every second counts, low latency and network reliability are essential.
3. Medical Data Transmission : Wi-Fi 7 enables fast and seamless transmission of large volumes of data, such as high-resolution medical images (X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, etc.). Essential for accurate diagnoses, these images can be instantly transferred throughout the hospital, between departments, or even to remote medical centers, enabling faster diagnoses and remote specialist consultations.
4. Hospital Administration : The new connectivity will also benefit hospital administration; inventory control of medications and medical supplies, management of patient flow, and coordination of staff can all operate more efficiently. Wi-Fi 7 will facilitate the automation of many processes, improving coordination and reducing the risk of logistical errors.
5. Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) : Wi-Fi 7 will make it possible for a large number of medical devices to be connected to the network. The modern hospital will feature mobile bed carts, portable patient monitors, smart beds, sensors for monitoring vital signs, general-purpose IoT sensors, and more.
6. Training Professionals : Wi-Fi 7 will improve the training of professionals in the sector. Augmented Reality (XR) requires fast and reliable connections, and will be crucial to train professionals, simulate complex situations and assist in medical operations in real time.
7. Leisure for Patients and Families : Let’s not forget the leisure factor: in hospitals, the demand for fast connections, both for patients and their families, is growing. Real-time streaming of sporting events, for example, will be possible thanks to Wi-Fi 7 technologies, which will be key to improving the patient experience by enriching the quality of time spent in the hospital.

Conclusion

Wi-Fi 7 will transform hospitals into more connected, efficient and secure centers, enabling the adoption of advanced technologies that improve the quality of medical service. From telemedicine to robotic surgery and remote patient monitoring, the capabilities of this technology will offer significant improvements in medical care and hospital management, providing a unique experience for both patients and their families.

Contact one of our experts today to find out more about Wi-Fi 7 and how you can leverage these benefits for your own business.