HIPAA News

Next Generation of Wireless Infrastructure for Patient Monitoring Secures Life-Critical Patient Data in Hospital Settings

(Nov 25, 2008)-- Welch Allyn,  manufacturer of frontline medical products and solutions, utilizes next generation wireless infrastructure in FlexNet, a new HIPAA-compliant, real-time continuous patient monitoring solution for acute care settings. The new solution utilizes Welch Allyn's exclusive 802.11a wireless radio technology in patient-related devices, and Aruba Networks' adaptive wireless LANs as the communication backbone. The resulting system delivers industry-leading immunity to dropout and interference, incorporates 802.11i / WPA2 security to ensure the integrity and privacy of all data, and can be shared among multiple vendors' biomedical applications. Wireless patient monitoring affords hospitals more care and resource utilization options than wired telemetry alternatives.

"Welch Allyn FlexNet is what today's health care IT professionals are demanding," said Will Fox, senior group product director, Systems and Vital Signs at Welch Allyn. "With so many wireless applications converging on hospitals--from EMRs to infusion pumps--it is vital for patient monitoring to be on its own network. FlexNet enables our customers to deliver this kind of high-performance solution which, in turn, results in superior patient care."

The revolutionary FlexNet technology allows real-time patient monitoring on a shared 802.11 a/b/g network. It can link multiple devices such as ambulatory wireless monitors and hardwired and bedside monitors to the Welch Allyn Acuity (R) Central Monitoring Station, while also supporting comprehensive patient monitoring networks and providing superior noise tolerance and communication integrity.

Embedded in each of the Welch Allyn wireless monitors is the company's own FDA-cleared 802.11a radio that uniquely meets the demands of patients and clinical staff. This exclusive technology supports fast roaming with key caching to protect against drop outs during patient ambulation and transports. It features 802.11i advance encryption standards to provide the strongest available network security protocol, and its 802.1x multiple authentication certificates support HIPAA requirements. FlexNet consumes minimal bandwidth, allowing more devices to share a common wireless network, and features low power consumption for industry-leading monitor battery life. And, FlexNet can seamlessly co-exist with frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) on the same Welch Allyn Acuity Central Monitoring System.
"The Welch Allyn joint technology and marketing partnership with Aruba Networks enables the FlexNet system to seamlessly and securely operate on Aruba's adaptive wireless LANs," said Manav Khurana, Aruba's head of industry marketing. "This collaboration ensures interoperability between the wireless network and Welch Allyn FlexNet devices, and delivers the reliability and quality of service necessary to support critical patient telemetry applications such as continuous monitoring."

Staff in the Tauranga Hospital Emergency Department in Tauranga, New Zealand are finding the new Welch Allyn monitoring systems have enabled them to offer a higher standard of care to their patients. There is a monitor in each of the 26 consulting bays in the department, and patients have appreciated the non-invasive aspect of having their vital signs monitored.

"Our staff is very happy with the monitors and the way they free them up to get on with other treatments and interventions," says Clinical Nurse Manager, Marama Tauranga. "The system is very user-friendly and the monitors have helped to make the department more efficient in terms of patient management and workflow."

"FlexNet technology provides the security, scalability and performance our customers have been waiting for to meet the needs of a busy hospital setting," added Fox. "This is yet another way in which Welch Allyn continues to provide caregivers and hospital IT staff with high-performance solutions that continue to put us on the front line of patient care."

For more information about Welch Allyn FlexNet, please call 800.535.6663 or visit www.welchallyn.com/flexnet.

Share or bookmarklet this web page at: