Wi-Fi for hospitals: a network that can never go down
In a hospital, far more depends on Wi-Fi than email. I design networks for medical devices, voice over Wi-Fi and finding equipment, in a building that is open day and night.
What makes a hospital different
Infusion pumps, patient monitors, mobile workstations and nurses' phones all use the Wi-Fi network. Many of those devices are critical and some are old: they support only certain bands or security, and roam poorly between access points.
The building does not help either. X-ray rooms and operating theatres are shielded, lift shafts and concrete cores block the signal, and refurbishment happens while the ward keeps working.
What I design
- Coverage and capacity per ward, including stairwells and corridors where nurses make calls
- Design for voice over Wi-Fi: enough signal and overlap for smooth roaming
- A separate plan for medical devices with their own band and security requirements
- Accounting for shielded rooms such as X-ray and operating theatres
- Separate networks for clinical use, staff, patients and visitors
- A design that also supports location and asset tracking
Finding equipment
Nurses lose a lot of time searching for pumps, wheelchairs and beds. With Cisco Spaces and BLE tags you see on a map where the equipment is, on the same Wi-Fi network. How that works in a real hospital, and which mistakes ruin accuracy, I describe in Cisco Spaces in Practice.
Wayfinding for patients and visitors
Finding an outpatient clinic in a large hospital is hard. With wayfinding patients open a link or scan a QR code from their appointment letter and see the route on their own phone. More options are in my guide on Cisco Spaces for healthcare.
Frequently asked questions
Can the network be renewed without disrupting care?
Yes. I plan the work ward by ward, at night or at weekends where needed, and measure after every phase. A ward is never left without a network.
Will our medical devices work on a new network?
I check that up front: which bands, security and roaming each device type supports. The design accounts for the weakest device you need to keep using.
How accurate is asset tracking?
With Wi-Fi location usually 5 to 10 metres, enough to find the right corridor or ward. With BLE tags and a design for location it can be more accurate. The accuracy you need depends on the use case.
Also of interest
Discuss your project
Send me the floor plans and what you want to achieve. You get a scope and a fixed price back.