COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
Ensuring modern telemetry systems function properly
More and more modern hospitals now rely on medical telemetry systems for the smooth operation of the ICT and communications technologies that are critical to efficient patient care. Here electronic engineers, Tetsuo Endo, Takashi Kano, and Eisuke Hanada, give an overview of new guidelines for the use of such systems in Japanese hospitals.
The introduction of ICT into hospitals is progressing explosively, but this has led to numerous challenges for the engineers and administrators involved in facility construction. According to a survey by Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), about 50% of Japanese hospitals (those with inpatient facilities of 20 beds or more) have medical telemetry systems, and more than 88% have wireless LANs.1
However, more than
40% of hospitals that have implemented these systems have experienced problems related to wireless communication. The most common reason for this
is problems related to radio wave propagation – including such problems as the necessary signals not being able to reach the intended area. Over 56% of the hospitals surveyed by MIC responded to a question about the management and operation of equipment that uses radio waves by saying that they had no staff with sufficient knowledge for the management and operation of their wireless communication system.
Proper wiring installation essential For the stable and safe operation of
ICT-based systems, it is essential that wiring and equipment installation be undertaken properly. Especially in wireless communication, signals of the required intensity must be able to be successfully received. Among the key considerations in achieving this are securing sufficient space for appropriate antennae and wiring, and ensuring that radio waves reach the terminals and antennae at the appropriate intensity. Architecture plays an extremely important role in the efficient operation of ICT systems. The rapid growth in the use of
sophisticated digital and other hospital communications systems poses significant challenges, both when designing a new building, and reconstructing older ones. Knowing as much as possible about emerging technologies, and designing the building in a way that accommodates them to the greatest extent possible, are key. Engineers cannot foresee the future, but it is important to build sufficient flexibility into the design and construction of new buildings to allow for the introduction of new technologies. The process for building a hospital is often as follows: after the design
phase, the skeleton is constructed, the air-conditioning system is installed, and the interior is put in place. The telecommunication equipment is then installed, followed by the installation of equipment and fixtures. When building a large hospital, the fact that these various element are undertaken separately can cause some issues.
Poor reception In ICT systems that use wireless communication, such as medical telemetry systems and wireless LAN access points, cables are often treated as equipment, but antennae as ‘supplies’. This can result in problems such as poor reception of the signals transmitted in a medical telemetry system, most frequently due to inappropriate antenna location. Some of the issues most commonly seen with such a set-up are shown in Figure 1. Poorly received or unreceived signals in a medical telemetry system can cause serious accidents, for instance if a patient’s condition deteriorates because vital signs are not received accurately or in a timely manner. Modern hospital architecture requires designs and processes that take into consideration the use of ICT from the earliest stages. To address this issue, the Architectural Institute of Japan (AIJ) set guidelines for hospital architecture and construction in September 2021 in conjunction with the Healthcare Engineering Association of Japan (HEAJ), the Electromagnetic Compatibility Conference Japan (EMCC), and MIC. The following is an overview of these guidelines.
A portable transmitter. 30 Health Estate Journal November 2022 A bedside monitor/transmitter.
Outline, purpose, and scope The guidelines are set out in six chapters: Purpose, Outline of Medical Telemetry, Scope of Application, Design, Construction, and Evaluation. Our purpose in promulgating these guidelines was to indicate points that should be noted, and steps to be avoided, in the planning, design, construction, and evaluation of buildings to ensure the stable operation of wireless communications for medical
©Manabu Kawabe, Saitama Medical University
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