AT&T’s journey into smart healthcare is marked by its commitment to expanding high-speed internet and collaborating with the healthcare industry. By harnessing robust connectivity and advanced technology, AT&T is enhancing healthcare quality and accessibility. This is particularly crucial in bridging the healthcare gap in remote areas, where the closure of hospitals has amplified the need for digital healthcare solutions.
AT&T’s initiatives range from practical applications like Navigil’s wellness wristwatch for older adults to building FirstNet®, the first nationwide broadband network for public safety. These projects highlight the potential of digital health technologies in improving patient care.
AT&T’s collaboration with institutions like the Lawrence J. Ellison Institute is creating new opportunities in patient care and research. 5G and edge computing are driving breakthroughs in 3D tumor imaging and personalizing patient experiences within healthcare facilities.
Efforts to streamline telemedicine for chronic conditions emphasize the importance of secure, reliable connectivity. AT&T’s vision includes a future where advanced connectivity enables a broad range of healthcare services, from at-home chemotherapy to AI-driven telemonitoring.
According to a whitepaper titled “Digital Transformation in Healthcare: Survey Analysis,” 30% of surveyed individuals anticipate that 5G will significantly enhance the patient experience within healthcare facilities over the next 1-3 years. You can access the full details of this whitepaper here.
The collaboration between AT&T and Austin Cancer Center is a prime example of effectively using 5G technology in healthcare. This partnership is dedicated to the swift transmission of large medical imaging files, crucial in diagnostics and treatment planning. Techniques such as MRI, CAT, and PET scans generate significant data files that often require review by specialists. Traditional networks might face challenges in efficiently transmitting these files, causing delays in patient care and reduced efficiency in healthcare facilities.
Incorporating 5G into healthcare infrastructures markedly improves the speed and reliability with which these large imaging files are transmitted. This advancement plays a key role in enhancing the quality and accessibility of patient care. At the Austin Cancer Center, for example, PET scanners produce files of up to 1 gigabyte per patient. The 5G network provided by AT&T has been crucial in ensuring the rapid and successful transfer of this data, allowing for immediate sharing of files post-scan and enabling doctors to provide quicker diagnostic feedback.
AT&T is the essential communication service provider in this venture, offering the needed 5G connectivity. The Austin Cancer Center, committed to top-notch cancer care, greatly benefits from this advanced technology. Embracing 5G has helped the center enhance its commitment to using advanced technology for patient-centered care, improving both its service quality and operational efficiency.
Rapid sharing of large digital patient files through 5G brings several advantages to healthcare providers and patients:
In conclusion, the use of 5G technology in smart healthcare, especially in eHealth initiatives like those at the Austin Cancer Center, represents a significant advancement in improving healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.
AT&T and VITAS® Healthcare, a leader in end-of-life care, have embarked on a study to explore the integration of 5G, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) in hospice care. This study aims to determine if these technologies can alleviate chronic pain and anxiety in hospice patients. The focus is on providing an alternative therapy that is both easy for caregivers to implement and comfortable for patients in their most challenging times. The study leverages the capabilities of 5G to deliver immersive technology solutions, enhancing the patient and family experience in end-of-life care.
The study has two primary objectives. The first was to evaluate the impact of VR and AR content on improving patient comfort levels. Patients might experience calming virtual environments, like walking beside a peaceful stream or visiting distant places like Machu Picchu. The second objective was to ensure the mobility of this content. Since many hospice patients receive care at home, the study tested how large video files can be downloaded or streamed remotely, utilizing 5G’s capabilities. Patients will use Magic Leap One Lightwear headsets, and the study will eventually move to field locations in AT&T’s 5G cities to test content downloading and streaming over 5G networks.
AT&T is providing the essential 5G mobility network and mobile content to facilitate this innovative use of virtual reality in hospice care. The company’s Chief Marketing Officer, Mo Katibeh, emphasizes the transformative potential of immersive technologies and 5G in changing the lives of patients and customers.
VITAS® Healthcare is at the forefront of this initiative, bringing their expertise in end-of-life care to the study. Dr. Joseph Shega, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at VITAS, highlights the potential of VR and AR as alternative therapies to enhance patients’ quality of life and enable virtual experiences previously impossible. Magic Leap contributes its advanced head-mounted virtual retinal display technology, enriching the immersive experience for patients.
This approach is expected to offer significant benefits:
This study represents a step in the intersection of 5G, smart healthcare, and eHealth, aiming to transform the hospice care experience through innovative technology.
AT&T, in partnership with MedWand Solutions Inc., HP, and Oracle, has been instrumental in launching the Urban-Rural Healthcare Alliance. This venture, unveiled at CES 2023, aims to bridge healthcare services between urban and rural areas, utilizing 5G and digital technologies to enhance healthcare delivery, especially in underserved communities.
AT&T’s contribution to MedWand’s healthcare advancements has been pivotal. By providing reliable internet connectivity, AT&T ensures seamless operation of MedWand’s Mobile Clinics. This support is crucial for MedWand’s system, which includes tele-triage and remote patient monitoring, to facilitate easier healthcare access across diverse locations.
Recognizing the World Health Organization’s report on the significant lack of healthcare access globally, AT&T’s collaboration with MedWand on the VirtualCare platform is a step toward linking urban medical centers with rural and inner-city areas, using 5G technology to potentially improve healthcare availability.
AT&T’s technological support extends to the MedWand Command Center, which enables comprehensive patient monitoring and streamlines communication between healthcare professionals and field workers.
The collaboration of AT&T with MedWand, particularly in leveraging 5G technology, aims to make healthcare more accessible and efficient, particularly in remote and underserved areas. This partnership is focused on ensuring that quality healthcare is within reach for all, regardless of location.
For further information on AT&T’s collaborative efforts with MedWand in the Urban-Rural Healthcare Alliance and the impact of their 5G technology in healthcare, visit MedWand. This alliance is a significant step in enhancing healthcare accessibility and quality, harnessing the power of modern technology.
AT&T’s new private 5G network is operational at the Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine of USC, making it one of the first medical facilities in the U.S. to utilize 5G for cancer research and patient care. This network provides ultra-fast connectivity essential for patient-focused cancer research, treatment, and wellness education.
The Ellison Institute integrates technology to enhance the experience of patients, visitors, clinicians, and students. Central to this is the inclusion of AT&T’s Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) and ultra-fast 5G+ millimeter wave service. This technology allows for immediate data capture and analysis on-site, improving the efficiency and security of patient data processing.
The Ellison Institute’s approach to cancer research and treatment fosters an interactive community of patients, researchers, and healthcare professionals. The integration of 5G and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies enhances connectivity within the healthcare sector and elevates the patient experience in the clinic. The high-speed, low-latency network supports real-time decision-making by doctors and an almost instantaneous feedback loop for clinicians.
The private 5G network enables advanced research methods, like 3D tumor imaging, while increasing data privacy and security. Patients receive digital bracelets upon arrival, helping track their journey through the facility and facilitating communication for appointment alerts.
The Ellison Institute utilizes connected technologies, such as wireless screens and sensors worn by patients and staff, to monitor interactions and improve collaborative research and care processes. This system allows for a detailed understanding of patient-staff interactions and aids in optimizing collaboration and outcomes.
The private 5G network, using low-band spectrum, ensures comprehensive wireless coverage throughout the Ellison Institute, accommodating thousands of users and supporting wall-to-wall connectivity.
The combination of 5G and other technologies at the Institute allows for immersive, personalized experiences for patients and visitors, tailoring aspects like music and lighting to individual preferences.
In busy medical centers, a private 5G cellular network plays a critical role. It offers healthcare professionals highly secure and continuous connectivity, ensuring access to patient data, medical records, and other vital information. This continuous connectivity is essential for delivering timely and high-quality critical care.
A practical application of this technology is seen in the deployment of mobile medical carts equipped with private, persistent connectivity. This feature enables nurses to instantly access patient information, prescriptions, and procedural details, significantly improving efficiency and patient care.
One of the largest non-profit health systems has utilized a private 5G network to create new and enhanced patient experiences. The network also supports advanced analytics solutions. By using a private network with low-latency connectivity, the health system can transmit data securely and efficiently. Initially, a temporary 5G network by AT&T was deployed to showcase the superior performance it could offer over traditional Wi-Fi, particularly in applications such as robotic surgery.
AT&T’s venture into 5G-driven smart healthcare is a testament to the transformative power of digital technology in the medical field. From revolutionizing in-facility patient experiences to bridging healthcare gaps in remote areas, AT&T has shown a steadfast commitment to advancing healthcare through connectivity and technology. Their strategic collaborations, like those with the Austin Cancer Center and VITAS® Healthcare, highlight the immense potential of 5G in enhancing medical imaging and hospice care. The integration of VR, AR, and private 5G networks in healthcare sector exemplifies how AT&T is not only improving current medical practices but also paving the way for future innovations. The journey of AT&T in the realm of smart healthcare redefines the boundaries of patient care and sets new benchmarks for technological integration in healthcare delivery.
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