Healthcare Applications for Clinicians - E-Healthcare Systems and Wireless Communications - page 67

and other parallel features of the image in ques-
tion as opposed to retrieval based on its textual
observations and remarks. (Wikipedia, 2010) In
light of clinical practices, researchers have argued
in favour of increased expansion and application
of Picture Archiving and Communication System
(PACS). (Muller, H et al, 2003) PACS provides
the user with quick access and retrieval of im-
ages, in addition to its cost-effective storage and
the offers a facility of more than one users being
able to access one image from different sources,
at the same time. (Wikipedia, 2010) Clinicians
using the PACS would use it as a storage system
for their images more than anything else. (Muller,
H. et al, 2003) In the recent future, it would be
interesting to see clinicians being able to compare
intact images with one another based on content,
using PACS. (Muller, H. et al, 2003) In regard to
medical images, there is still insufficient informa-
tion on clinician requirements. (Muller, H. et al,
2003) Added research comprising of conducting
studies and surveys to get first-hand information
from clinicians would be necessary when it comes
to content-based retrieval.

2009), make relative interpretations and suggest
suitable treatment strategies.
As the demand of mobile healthcare increases
and as health professionals are getting used to
benefit from technology, new applications based
on new technologies are emerging in the mar-
ket. With more technology advancements in the
healthcare industry, the future of healthcare is
carved by robust wireless technology to optimize
the level of care of patients at lower costs. It also
aims to empower physicians to efficiently perform
their hospital activities by providing an improved
wireless hospital environment. Wireless technolo-
gies are technologies are transforming the way
healthcare is delivered and will continue to do so
in the future. Dan Hesse, CEO at Sprint Nextel,
mentions that despite the different challenges
in the way of adopting wireless technologies in
healthcare, health professionals are making an
effort to automate their practices using wireless
technologies as a means to provide their patients
with qualitative, improved and faster care (Busi-
ness Wire, 2010).

5.2. Future of Wireless
Technology in Healthcare

REFERENCES

Ahmad, F., Skinner, H. A., Stewart, D. E., &
Levinson, W. (2010). Perspectives of family
physicians on computer-assisted health-risk as-
sessments. Journal of Medical Internet Research,
12 (2). Retrieved on September 5 th , 2010, from
http://www.jmir.org/2010/2/e12/HTML#table2

At present there are a number of useful appli-
cations deployed on portable devices to assist
clinicians in delivering quality care to patients
and improving the workflow in a hospital en-
vironment. A few years back, executive staff in
the hospital banned the use of devices requiring
wireless connectivity for the fear of interference
of wireless signals with medical equipment.(Za-
tloukal, 2008) Today, medical applications on
wireless devices are a necessity in the healthcare
industry. Clinicians and technologists favor wire-
less technology equally (Zatloukal, 2008); and
delivering healthcare without technology, wire-
less or otherwise, cannot be imagined. The use
of information technology in healthcare practices
is required exhaustively in order to control and
distribute healthcare information (Stead & Lin,

Alasaarela, E. (2008). Wirhe - Wireless solutions
in healthcare, international strategy and roadmap
towards 2014 (Version 1.5), University of Oulu,
Finland. Retrieved on September 5 th , 2010, from
http://www.zef.fi/documents/Wirhe-raportti.pdf

Alasaarela, E., Nemana, R., & DeMello, S. (2009).
Drivers and challenges of wireless solutions in
future healthcare . In University of Oulu, Interna-
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DC., USA: IEEE Computer Society.