Technology Shaping the Future of Healthcare with Smart Hospitals
An important agreement was signed between Chinese ZTE corporation and the country’s Telecom Suzhou Branch for developing a smart hospital.
The collaboration between ZTE and the telecom branch will organize a 5G IoT integration network solution at The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University.
This solution, which recently won the “First Prize (Excellent Innovation)” at the ICT China Awards 2024, will enhance the capability for mobile healthcare service with this integration of network set to unleash ubiquitous access towards IoT applications and to transform medical operations by making processes smoother within the hospitals.
Benefits of the 5G IoT Smart Hospital
The newly deployed 5G IoT network offers uniform architecture, supporting both public network services and private applications, while allowing seamless integration of IoT devices.
Compared to traditional IoT networks, this solution reduces the varieties of required network types, saving costs and easing upgrade issues and will be capable of connecting more than 3,000 terminals to drive much better management of IoT applications within the hospital’s environment.
The solution realizes about 80% cost savings in upgrades and cuts construction time by an enviable 90%. Traditional IoT gateways replaced with a 5G base station will result in the avoidance of hardware limitations and a flattening network architecture, further cutting the TCO by 30%.
Addressing Challenges in Healthcare
As one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, demands for healthcare are growing with rising incomes, increasing health awareness, and an aging population. Caring had become more complex, and resources were limited; thus, for the hospitals, there was a need that has made digital transformation inevitable. The traditional structure of the network often increases the management difficulties for medical resources and inflates their operational and maintenance costs.
To tackle such challenges, ZTE, together with China Telecom’s Suzhou Branch and The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, has developed a 5G smart hospital since 2023. It boasts an innovative “1+M+X” model to deliver a scalable network solution for smart healthcare. That “1” here refers to one 5G IoT integration network; “M”, Multiple Smart Digital Platforms, forming a unified management system, connecting clinical workflow, assets, and data.
Critical applications, such as smart emergency services, smart hospitals beds, inpatient treatment, and elderly care, are installed on this advanced network for smart hospitals. With the real-time monitoring of vital signs ensured by the reliable 5G signals during emergencies, the 5G smartphones raise the efficiency level in the treatment of emergencies by replacing medical PDAs.
The 5G-Round vehicle provides near-bed imaging diagnostics in inpatient environments, loading PACS images in merely 2 to 3 seconds to smoothen diagnostic operations which improves smart hospital beds of the future. Moreover, shared monitors between departments introduced optimized resource management and liberated patient monitors by 15%. Similarly, smart infusion systems in smart hospitals enable remote tracking to promote better delivery of care by nurses. These enable not only higher efficiency from medical staff but also further better outcomes for patients, demonstrating the potential of mobile healthcare services and building smarter hospitals.
Looking Ahead
ZTE still commits to 5G smart hospital technology development in the construction of a digital society. While continuing the technological collaboration with The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, China Telecom’s Suzhou Branch works to optimize working conditions for medical staff while keeping quality healthcare affordable and accessible.
Indeed, the future of health is going to be connected and smart with this future smart hospital, and this 5G IoT integration network by ZTE promises a transformation in the smart hospitals and healthcare industry. With this alliance raising the bar, it’s time for all hospitals to shape themselves for modern needs with efficiency and patient-centered care.
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