TABLE OF CONTENTS Just as with any other wireless technology, WLANs have distinct benefits for various market segments. The technology is also very popular in the residential market. Some of the more traditional WLAN markets include factories, warehouses and distribution centers.
The primary drivers for hospitals to deploy WLAN-based applications are better record keeping, better patient care and more time for doctors. In the Yankee Group s 2002 annual survey, 47 percent of the healthcare institutions that the research group spoke with had already deployed a WLAN. Younger doctors especially are recognizing the benefits of being able to access medical records and data in real time. Many of them are arriving on the job with their own handheld devices, so when their employers implement an organization-wide application, the adoption curve isn t too steep.
The healthcare environment in general has adopted wireless technology faster than other markets, because its needs are so immediate. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) also set forth a requirement for healthcare organizations to use electronic documentation over paper-based practices. However, healthcare also faces higher security risks than other sectors; there s federal regulation involved and serious privacy issues.
In one respect, the higher standards of the healthcare market are helping the industry as a whole. On the way to reaching health-care s high security and data transmission standards, other industries needs are met. There are numerous vendors who are innovating for the healthcare industry and then serving high-quality products to auxiliary markets...
