LEVEL OF ACCURACY
LOOKING AHEAD The future of digital health is poised to deliver a more connected, efficient, and patient-centered approach to healthcare through technological innovation, integration, and data-driven insights. As digital health innovations like wearables and at-home smart medical devices become more prevalent reducing the necessity for in-person hospital visits, the industry may experience a reduction in the number of dedicated healthcare facilities. Nevertheless, both current and future facilities must adopt and support digital advancements while expanding wireless capabilities that will effectively deliver comprehensive care and treatment for all patients, whether remotely or on-site. To successfully achieve this, the wireless network deployment must integrate modern installation practices, comply with all relevant healthcare codes and standards, and follow industry guidelines to ensure optimal performance, support, and preparedness for future technological advancements.
AREA
Ceiling enclosures specific for healthcare facilities are typically plenum-rated but also include additional features and installation methods to further mitigate tampering, infectious and contamination risk, as well as ease of operational use without lifting the ceiling tile (Figure 4).
Indoor clinical areas (e.g., waiting area, patient care)
Room
Outdoor clinical areas (e.g., courtyards terraces, walking paths, ambulance bays)
Line of Sight
Indoor non-clinical areas (e.g., maintenance, biomedical engineering, administrative) Zone Outdoor non-clinical areas (e.g., parking structure, loading docks, pickup/drop-off zones) Zone
Floor level to within one floor
Stairways
COVERAGE AREAS AND LEVEL OF ACCURACY
Elevators
Car/Cab
For wireless systems, guidance for coverage areas related to Wi-Fi / IEEE 802.11 compliant systems can be found in standards (e.g., ANSI/BICSI 008) and numerous publications. For an RTLS deployed within a healthcare facility, information is usually left to interpreting operational or security plans and the collective experience of personnel present to determine where coverage is needed and to what level of accuracy. While every healthcare facility is unique, standards such as CSA Z8005 and the forthcoming version of ANSI/BICSI 004 have created recommendations for RTLS level of accuracy as a starting point. Examples of coverage area and levels of accuracy are shown in Table 1.
RTLS usage for duress purposes
Room
TABLE 1: RTLS Coverage Areas and Level of Accuracy.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY: Bree Murphy, RCDD, is an App- lications Engineer and Global Technical Trainer at Oberon ® , a division of Chatsworth Products Inc. She has more than 35 years of experience in the ICT industry, demonstrating expertise in technical content creation, management, training, speaking, and sales. Bree is a prolific author of articles and white papers featured in publications such as BICSI ICT Today , Cabling Installation & Maintenance Magazine, including Oberon's website, social media, newsletters, and blogs. She collaborates closely with end-user customers, architects, consultants, design engineers, and managed service providers to strategize and
identify solutions that offer improved wireless network outcomes. Bree has been a member of BICSI for 24 years, actively contributing to various BICSI Working Groups within the BICSI International Standards Program, and currently serves as Vice Chair of the BICSI wireless standards. She is a strong advocate for Women in BICSI. Bree also leads the Wi-Fi NOW Global Partnership, where she directs and oversees Oberon’s strategic partnerships, initiatives, and overall direction. She can be reached at breemurphy@outlook.com.
FIGURE 4: As many facilities now include aesthetics as part of the overall experience, aesthetics may assist with securing wireless systems by obscuring their appearance without affecting operations.
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ICT TODAY
October/November/December 2024
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