Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1219491
April/May/June 2020 I 55 Not to be outdone, Google Assistant has released a voice-driven app in partnership with Mayo Clinic. Advice on how to treat conditions like fevers, cuts, insect bites is given by Mayo First Aid. It also gives information on responding in emergency situations, for example, if a user needs to perform CPR. "Expanding the delivery of Mayo Clinic content through more voice channels helps give consumers ready access to trusted health information where and when they need it," Sandhya Pruthi, MD, associate medical director of Mayo Clinic Global Business Solutions said in a news release. "We're pleased to continue innovating with voice and exploring its value to enhance patient and consumer engagement." 2: It is How Medical Professionals Ensure Safety Safety can mean many things in a hospital or healthcare facility setting as it relates to wireless. First responders, FIGURE 2: Wireless and monitoring systems allow medical professionals to ensure the best safety for patients. such as EMTs, firefighters, and police officers rely on reli- able wireless coverage for their devices, both outside and inside buildings. Healthcare facilities need to ensure the safety of patients and staff in the event of a fire, flood, natural disaster, active shooter or other threat. A public safety DAS system provides coverage for first responder radios inside the confines of building structures, includ- ing newly created FirstNet, a public-private partner- ship between the federal government and AT&T. Additionally, safety can mean hospital or healthcare staff being able to monitor and manage patients who might be at risk for wandering off or for the special care of infants. Some applications use a newborn identification tag that is connected via Wi-Fi or another wireless network. Safety can mean monitoring not only live human bodies but also high-value assets like drugs and medical equip- ment (Figure 2). Safety can also mean pointing people in the right direction and helping patients and visitors navigate large hospital campuses. Wayfinding refers to the way that people navigate spaces and paths to move around, and with wireless connectivity this can encompass location- based services, geo-location integrated with smart signage and intelligent lighting that can literally light up a path based on real-time personnel location data. More about wayfinding can be found in ANSI/BICSI 007, Information Communication Technology Design and Implementation Practices for Intelligent Buildings and Premises. 3: It is How Medical Professionals Provide Patient Care There are an incredibly large number of ways that wire- less networks support and impact patient care; the influ- ence of the connected smartphone in health care cannot be overstated. In its annual Global Innovation Index, the UN World Intellectual Property Organization identified the number one global trend that will have a significant impact on healthcare: The spread of broadband access and smartphone usage around the world facilitates near-instantaneous sharing of data between patients and providers, enabling remote treat- ment and expanding clinical databases for use in research and development of new treatments.