Wireless Networking Infrastructure Remains Challenge for Hospitals

Wireless networking infrastructure continues to be a challenge for hospitals and health systems, a recent survey by Spok found. Almost half of 450 healthcare professionals from U.S. hospitals and health systems cited Wi-Fi coverage as a problem area, while 39 percent cited cellular coverage as a challenge. Of the 450 respondents, 38 percent were physicians, nurses, or other clinicians; 21 percent were IT and telecommunications staff; 10 percent were executive leaders; 7 percent were clinical application staff; and 24 percent were business analysts, pharmacists, and roles related to patient services. At the same time, the annual survey found progress in wireless networking infrastructure compared to the 2016 survey. In the 2016, Wi-Fi coverage was identified as a top challenge by 55 percent of respondents, a number that dropped to 47 percent in the 2019 poll. Cellular coverage was cited as a challenge by 46 percent of the 2016 poll compared to 39 percent in the 2019 survey.