AUSTRIA ENTERS A NEW ERA OF DIGITAL HEALTHCARE
From manufacturing and finance to cities and the public sector, digitalization is advancing at a rapid pace in almost all areas of life—and healthcare is no exception. The EU Commission recently committed to accelerating the digital transformation of the healthcare sector, e.g., with electronic health records, which will come into force in 2030 as part of the European Health Data Space Regulation (EHDS) [1].
When implemented, doctors and medical staff will be able to access electronic health data via digital records—even across EU borders and languages. This law is set to not only improve treatment but also benefit research in the form of data (provided that patients give their consent for it to be used) [2]. This is just one of many examples that highlight how digitalization in the healthcare sector is progressing across the EU and how the rapid exchange of data can help save lives.
But hospitals can now take things a step further by implementing a 5G campus. Read on to find out how our digital partners Magenta and Cancom Austria brought 5G connectivity in hospitals to life. Let’s start by taking a closer look at how this private, local, mobile network improves everyday work and patient care across hospitals in the Austrian State of Burgenland.
NETWORKING FOR MEDICAL STAFF
The Oberwart Clinic is one of the first hospitals in Europe to implement a 5G healthcare infrastructure. Although staff still use pagers and DECT telephony to communicate, future-oriented technologies are expanding and supporting everyday hospital life thanks to 5G connectivity in the hospitals. A dedicated 5G network now handles all voice communication and alerts in Burgenland’s hospitals. This means that medical staff only need one device to access all the apps they need. These professional, handy devices (similar to smartphones) make work more mobile and flexible for doctors, nursing staff, and technicians.
INNOVATIVE HEALTHCARE AND FASTER DIAGNOSES
And the improvements don’t stop there. 5G connectivity in hospitals also allows staff to use AI to help them diagnose patients faster. AI can process huge amounts of data in a very short time, which also makes it perfect for other data-intensive medical applications. Moreover, the high transfer speed provided by a 5G campus is key to faster, safer, and more efficient healthcare because patients receive the treatment they need in less time, which accelerates and improves recovery. In short, a 5G network can improve both medical service and patient satisfaction.
5G CAMPUS: MAXIMUM SECURITY
Regardless of the benefits, the right security is an absolute must when dealing with sensitive data. That’s why, as part of critical infrastructure, 5G connectivity in hospitals must be both stable and reliable. With this in mind, Magenta and Cancom set up a private 5G healthcare infrastructure that operates completely independently of the public mobile network. The hospital network is also designed with built-in dual redundancy for seamless operation—even in the event of a power cut or technical failure. The Burgenland Hospital manages the 5G campus itself using an on-premises solution. This gives its in-house IT department complete control over the system for maximum data protection.
PIONEERING ROLE IN HEALTHCARE
By carrying out this project, Burgenland Hospital is helping set new standards in healthcare. Surprisingly, however, 5G hospital networks are still uncommon. In Europe, for example, there are only two: in Leipzig, Germany and Oulu, Finland. Nevertheless, 5G hospital networks can help hospitals overcome both current and future technological challenges, including internal communication and new digital workflows, processes, and apps. For example, Burgenland Hospital’s new system allows it to manage its entire logistics—from patient transport to medication delivery. Put simply, 5G connectivity in hospitals helps improve and secure patient care—and also paves the way for further digitalization projects.
CONCLUSION AND OUTLOOK
This case study shows how 5G connectivity in hospitals can strengthen entire healthcare systems. However, 5G technology isn’t confined to the healthcare sector. For example, it’s already being used in industry to speed up production processes. Airports are also testing intelligent logistics and digitalizing passenger transport. Find out here how T Business Europe can help revolutionize your business with 5G infrastructure.