Evan Kirstel, chief digital evangelist and co-founder of EViRaI, an influencer and analyst passionate about the innovative intersection of technology and healthcare, discusses the incredible developments that are about to transform the healthcare experience: Hospitals Introduction and implementation of 5G networks within the country.

What is 5G?

Before we dive into this exciting revolution, let’s give a brief introduction to what 5G is, for those who may not be familiar with the term. 5G stands for the fifth generation of wireless technology. It promises faster data transfer speeds, lower latency (i.e. less data transfer delays) and stronger connectivity. When most of us hear “5G,” we think of ultra-fast downloads, high-definition streaming, and lightning-fast internet browsing. But the impact of 5G goes far beyond our smartphones and into an area where it can save lives - hospitals.

The power of 5G in healthcare

Now, you might be asking, "Why does healthcare need 5G?" The answer lies not only in the speeds 5G offers, but also in its capacity and latency. With 5G, we're talking about a network that can handle large numbers of devices with less than a millisecond of latency, compared to around 70 milliseconds for 4G networks. This makes 5G a game-changer for the healthcare industry, enabling the development of "smart" hospitals, facilitating remote telesurgery, and enabling doctors to receive patients' vital signs and medical history the moment they walk in the door, all thanks to for wearable devices and sensors.

The potential of 5G in healthcare is huge. As the U.S. health system embraces more personalized medicine, it opens the door to faster, more accurate diagnostics and allows for the sharing of vast amounts of genomic data. In addition, it is expected to drive further development of telemedicine, accelerate the adoption of virtual reality and artificial intelligence, and enable the explosion of Internet-connected devices known as the Internet of Things (IoT).

The future is here

Although people are just beginning their 5G journey, the adoption of 5G devices is expected to accelerate rapidly. This is not just a hypothesis, but an already established reality. Cleveland Clinic is preparing to launch its first fully 5G-enabled facility this summer. The facility will be built on 5G and will serve as a platform to launch new ideas and innovations in the field of medical technology.

The magic of 5G in practice

Imagine the doctor being able to see the layers beneath the skin before making the first incision. This approach has never been approved before because 4G technology simply cannot carry that much information. Now, with 5G, we are entering a new era of precision and efficiency that will enable a further explosion of telemedicine, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and internet-connected devices, or the Internet of Things.

Imagine a patient in a rural area with few medical providers receiving emergency surgery from a doctor in another part of the country using on-site robotic tools and a customized internet connection. This is the transformative power of 5G in healthcare - making healthcare more accessible and efficient no matter where you are.

But it's not just about patients in the hospital. Patients traveling in ambulances can have internal bleeding checked via ultrasound, with the results safely sent directly to doctors before arrival. Thanks to remote monitoring devices, patients admitted to the hospital will be able to move more freely and return home more easily. This removes the constraints of specific areas of the building, allowing us to focus more on patient care and less on logistics. In other words, distance no longer matters.

Adopted globally

It's not just the United States embracing 5G in healthcare. Globally, the 5G revolution in healthcare is accelerating. For example, China has the world's first 5G dedicated medical network and announced in 2019 that it would become the standard of the future. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they built 20 fully 5G-enabled shipboard hospitals, demonstrating the potential of 5G to address urgent medical needs and crises.

Overcome challenges

While 5G has huge potential in healthcare, the road to full implementation is not without challenges. One of the major obstacles is adding 5G to older hospital buildings that were not designed for it. 5G signals are more likely to be blocked by common objects such as thick concrete walls, which are found in many older hospital buildings. Additionally, while 5G technology is available almost everywhere today, not all buildings will be able to use it at its fastest capacity.

Additionally, not everyone in the healthcare industry fully understands the importance of 5G, and not everyone knows what they can do with 5G. It is estimated that about 20% of U.S. hospitals have added some 5G connectivity, but few are taking full advantage of this capacity. This highlights the need for more knowledge on how 5G can help them achieve the future and deliver care in the ideal way. But as awareness and understanding increases, it is expected that within five years, most healthcare organizations will realize that 5G is the best option.

The road to 5G

The potential of 5G to revolutionize healthcare delivery cannot be overstated. There will certainly be challenges along the way, but there's no denying that the future is exciting. The shift to 5G is not just a technology upgrade, but a step toward a more efficient, personalized, and convenient world of healthcare.