Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1219491
54 I ICT TODAY Cureatr, offer secure texting and messaging platforms that reside as mobile apps, as well as providing other patient care functions. A Wi-Fi network can certainly be utilized to enable Wi-Fi calling. The major advantages are that coverage can be improved in areas where cellular is lacking, and deployment costs can be relatively low. The disadvantages are that there is no effective hand-off for the user when transitioning from a cellular connection to Wi-Fi (calls will drop) and the system is not user friendly in that user phones must be individually programmed to connect to the Wi-Fi. Most importantly, Wi-Fi networks supporting Wi-Fi calling must be engineered to support both the amount of data traffic and prioritization required. The power of the human voice continues to evolve in the medical arena. Amazon recently announced soft- ware for its voice assistant Alexa that enables medical firms to transmit patient data in a HIPPA-compliant manner. There are a variety of burgeoning apps being developed in conjunction with this platform, and all of these powered devices require some kind of wireless connectivity, be it Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or cellular. Here is what one prominent organization had to say about the potential: "Boston Children's Hospital…began this journey with one of the first Amazon Alexa skills from a hospital four years ago and are thrilled to participate in the initial launch of Amazon Alexa's HIPAA-eligible service for developers. The My Children's Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) skill, launching today, allows patients and caregivers to easily share recovery progress with their care team post- surgery. We believe it is just one example of how voice technology can extend the care and support of our patients beyond the four walls of the hospital." — John Brownstein, chief innovation officer, Boston Children's Hospital. that offers greatly enhanced voice quality for the user. Voice over long-term evolution is based on the IP multi- media subsystem (IMS) network. This means that voice traffic on a cell phone will no longer reside on legacy 3G UMTS or 2G GSM networks; instead, voice is pack- etized and delivered like and along with other data on the LTE network. Not long ago, depending on a person's carrier, one could not use both data and talk on a device at the same time. For example, AT&T and T-Mobile, which both relied on a combination of LTE for data and older HSPA+ for phone calls, would drop down to 3G when a call was being placed. VoLTE solves this problem. With VoLTE, imagine concert-hall-like acoustics when a VoLTE conversation takes place; crystal-clear conversa- tions as if the people on the conversation were sitting right next to each other. Carriers like VoLTE because it allows them to operate their networks much more effi- ciently, and it offers consumers a much better experience because of sound quality. Additionally, VoLTE will also allow wireless service providers the ability to offer rich communications services (RCS). This class includes video voicemail, video calling, file transferring, and real-time language translation. For effective voice to voice communication, there must be cellular connectivity in most cases; this can be achieved in a variety of ways. First, it could just work. The macro or outside network might serve the building adequately. Not every workplace needs improved cover- age. However, for those that do, they could be served by small cells (i.e., network extender) or a distributed antenna system (DAS). Many in the workplace view texting (SMS) as an essential communication method, and those in health care are no different. However, their texting must be secure to comply with the Health Information Portabil- ity and Protection Act (HIPPA) requirements for patient confidentiality. Vendors, such as Voalte, pingmd, and Multitudes of apps are in use that deliver health status updates, identify specific illnesses, and put any conceivable information at the fingertips of patients and providers.