Wireless may finally be ready for prime time in healthcare

Wireless technologies might finally be ready to reach their full potential in healthcare, according to a report in Computerworld.

People have made this prediction before, but cardiologist Dr. Eric Topol, chief academic officer at Scripps Health in San Diego, believes three things are different now: Healthcare organizations finally have the bandwidth to handle images and other "rich" data; the market is being flooded with mobile software applications; and what he says is the "grand success" of various wireless technologies in improving the quality of care.

For the latter, Topol cites home monitoring devices, such as wireless heart monitors, that collect significant amounts of critical medical data and can transmit readings in real time.

Eddie Cuellar, CIO of Methodist Healthcare System in the San Antonio area, speaks highly of wireless fetal monitor that can help busy obstetricians and nurses keep better track of high-risk pregnancies. And a Spokane, WA, lab company has dramatically reduced the number of lost specimens--and boosted its reputation--thanks to a wireless tracking system.

For more reasons why some are so bullish on wireless healthcare technologies:
- check out this Computerworld article