1 – End User and Facility Needs – The end users should be your starting point. A healthcare facility’s CIO is becoming increasingly responsible for meeting the wireless communication needs of its mobile users. A public facility, such as a hospital, has subscribers using various types of mobile devices across many different carriers. Plus older hardware only supports certain technologies.
These facts should drive your objectives for enabling a medical facility with technology that supports multiple operators with multiple technologies (e.g. 3G, LTE). Furthermore, mobile technologies are constantly evolving and you need to consider how the system will support newer technologies with minimal disruption.
2 – Bars versus Data – Be sure not to confuse having good coverage (all bars on the phone), with good capacity (data throughput). A solution needs enough baseband processing within a given area to provide good data performance to a certain number of users. These areas are called sectors, and the dimensions of a sector can vary based on facility size and high-density locations such as the lobby. Multiple users will be connected to a single baseband processor. Its performance is determined by the number of active users – the more users, the lower performance per user. If the baseband processor has a limit on the number of active users that is below typical demands then the performance per user will drop dramatically.
These facts should drive your objectives for reviewing the user base, their typical locations, high-density areas, etc. This information provides benchmarks for the number of users to be supported in an area. The baseband is different for each mobile operator; therefore, you should estimate your users per carrier. Next, consider the system’s ability to deliver quality signal to different areas with these baseband sectors.
3 – Noise versus Audiophile – Wireless ultimately means signals in the air are modulated with information. The antennas that transmit them must be designed for your medical center. Overlapping signals create interference and degrade performance. Furthermore, the quality of these signals is critical to the quality of service (QoS). They are produced and delivered into the air via antennas, which are powered by amplifiers. In some approaches these two components are separate and can be mixed and matched based on a hospital’s needs. However, in others they are integrated and your optimization choices are limited. The ability to produce the signal is a key data point. A set of antennas and amplifiers (known as Remote Units in a distributed antenna system or DAS) can be designed to support many different signals (or bands), thus enabling multiple carriers. Antennas are like balloons. If you add air to a balloon it will swell in a specific direction. The air is like the cellular signal energy being delivered from the amplifier. The shape is determined by the quality of the “phaser” design of the antenna. This shape is known as the antenna pattern, and some antenna designs can have “back lobes” or “side lobes” that interfere with other antennas.
These facts should drive you to ask questions about how a system will reproduce multiple operators’ signals and their many bands within the different areas of your medical center. Ask your supplier if he controls the antenna designs and for the 3D image of the patterns. Look at them across a wide range of frequencies because characteristics may change along with the performance.
4 – Centralized versus Distributed – The choice of centralized or distributed equipment should be based on several environmental factors such as the available space within your facility. Building a space or using valuable revenue generating onsite property are not cost effective options. Next, consider how many facilities you plan to service with wireless and how do end users utilize it. Using a centralized solution in a lower cost location and then dynamically allocating the wireless resources to facilities as you need them can be more cost effective. Furthermore, evaluate options for bringing different operators’ signals into your buildings. With a good architecture each operator will host equipment within different sites, while converging them within your locations. C-DAS or Centralized Distributed Antenna System architecture, enables one or more C-RAN (Cloud or Centralized Random Access Network) sites to deliver signal into locations in a precise manner while reducing onsite equipment up to 85 percent. C-DAS architecture also has the intelligence to shift cells (sectors) from one location to another as needed.
These facts should drive you to look at your solution holistically, across the entire campus. Consider how you can leverage a common site for cost effectiveness.
5 – Small Cell versus DAS – Perhaps today’s most over-hyped term is “small cell”. It is an umbrella term for operator-controlled, low-powered radio access nodes operating in licensed and unlicensed spectrum. They act as little base stations for a single cell, but they are always limited in the number of operators and bands supported, the number of active users within the cell, and the control over the antenna beam. Each requires power, and most often they are connected via the Ethernet standard, PoE (Power over Ethernet), which has limitations. In contrast, a DAS focuses on redistribution of signal from a central location. No baseband technology is integrated. It can support multiple operators and multiple bands. A DAS’ separate antennas and amplifiers (known as Remote Units) allow the antenna beams to be selected based on the room size or shape. While the amplifier selected is based on the power needed. Remote Units are aggregated at a Master Unit, which can run over a single fiber. Master Units allow multiple operators and bands to be converged and many Remote Units to be connected.
These facts should drive you to consider the type of facility you are covering. A DAS can most effectively provide wireless coverage in a facility over 100,000 square feet, and support multiple operators and multiple bands. It is optimal for covering outdoor areas, and rooms with varying shapes that create signal blocking. A DAS uses fiber for connectivity and inherently provides more capacity than the CAT5/6 wiring used by small cells.
6 – Infrastructure and Operations – Regardless of the approach you take you will need to utilize existing infrastructure or add new hardware. Similar to other IT systems, it will need to be optimized, monitored, and updated. When considering the impact of a system on your facility, review the transport method used to connect antennas into the network. Most often the solution needs fiber optics to achieve the capacity necessary to carry the RF signals. Others operate over CAT5/6 wiring, but have capacity and distance limitations. These systems require power and various additional power outlets. Next consider the tools that help commission, monitor and adjust the system over time. Systems may include automation techniques or remote access; therefore, eliminating the need for technicians to visit your facility.
These facts should drive you to ask questions about initial power, transport, and mounting locations as well as servicing plans to ensure disruptions are avoided. Ask about every system component and how and when it needs to be accessed. You need to ensure technicians can access your facility. Inquire about the administration tools, and reporting and monitoring capabilities. A good system should offer remote adjustments and RF performance visibility.
7 – Mobile versus Desk phone – Many fixed in-building telephone systems sit idle while employees use their mobile phones for everyday communication. The consumer industry has experienced a mass exodus from landlines already with only 59 percent of U.S. households still using them.1 Now many healthcare businesses are moving in the same direction with BYOD (bring your own device) programs. An untethered workforce provides many benefits.
These facts should drive you to consider your communications program holistically. Making the move to an all-wireless, untethered environment may be natural and innovative. Necessary mobile coverage and capacity must be considered when reviewing the overall program and budget. Significant economic and productivity benefits can be incurred.
8 – Compatibility and Future Readiness – The only constant in the wireless industry is change. New technologies will be introduced continuously. In order to keep end users satisfied it is crucial that your system can be modified easily to support future technologies. Minimal disruption is key.
These facts should drive you to take a good look at the different mobile operators, their currently supported technologies and what the future may bring. This may be a challenge if you are not current regarding technologies, but a good consultant can guide you. Your supplier should walk through as many change scenarios as possible so you can fully comprehend the additional costs and the potential disruptions that may occur.
Mr. Landry is the Corporate Vice President of Product and Market Strategy at JMA Wireless. Prior to JMA Wireless, he was the Vice President of Product Management and Marketing for NEC’s Unified Communications and Collaboration (UC&C) portfolio. Todd also held senior positions in companies such as Sphere Communications, 3Com’s CommWorks Corporation, and U.S. Robotics. He led product management, marketing, business development and alliances functions. Todd is an Advisory Board member of the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Council and has served on multiple industry standards boards. He holds two patents in communications systems and 3G wireless data systems.
The views, opinions and positions expressed within these guest posts are those of the author alone and do not represent those of Becker’s Hospital Review/Becker’s Healthcare. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The copyright of this content belongs to the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with them.
