Positioning in 5G for Medicine and Health Care

The healthcare system is undergoing a far-reaching transformation process, which is not only expressed by the digitalization of patient files. The new mobile communications standard 5G can enable a number of new applications. Low latency of a few milliseconds, high data rates of up to several Gbit/s and high reliability are key functions that modern medical applications demand (e.g. for telemedicine) and that 5G can provide.

5G-based positioning in the interior and exterior of hospitals can also offer promising approaches for new processes and more transparency. For example, the delivery of surgical material and medication can be better predicted and, if necessary, automatically triggered. In addition, medical devices can be positioned within hospital buildings to improve their rapid availability in emergencies and protect valuable equipment against theft. In addition, chains of infection can be traced and broken more quickly, and the safety of patients who are particularly in need of protection can be increased. It is also conceivable to monitor the condition and position of vital organs being transported for transplantation, so that the staff responsible can assess when an important drug or organ arrives on the ward and whether it has been transported improperly.

 

Tracking of Medical Devices

The search for medical equipment sometimes takes up a not insignificant part of the working time of hospital staff. Moreover, in critical situations, every minute can be decisive. The positioning capabilities of 5G can be used to locate mobile medical devices from syringe pumps to CT within a building, thus reducing search times.

 

Interruption of chains of infection

If an infectious disease breaks out in a medical facility, it is important to interrupt chains of infection as quickly as possible so that further spread can be stopped. This can be complex if it is not known which patient has come into contact with which equipment. With the help of the positioning capabilities of 5G, it is conceivable to achieve an unambiguous correlation between patients and medical devices.

 

Patient Protection

In addition to the health of patients, their safety and protection are of paramount importance. Information about their whereabouts can be essential to provide rapid medical care in an emergency or to locate lost people before they put themselves in danger. Equipping medical devices with 5G technology can help determine the location of vulnerable patients in an emergency.

 

Monitoring of Drones in medical logistics

When ordering important medicines, it is vital for the attending physician to know when they will arrive and what the transport conditions were.