Achieving More with Less: Wireless Solutions Help Healthcare Professionals Meet the Need of the Hour.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 3, 2004

Cash-strapped hospitals in the United States are finding it increasingly difficult to provide patients with anything more than the standard levels of medical care.

Rising patient volumes, acute staff shortages, and a rapidly aging population are not only compromising patient quality of care, but also resulting in more frequent instances of medical errors and adverse drug effects (ADEs).

"As staff shortages and increasing patient volumes pose an alarming dilemma for healthcare organizations, medical professionals are starting to realize that wireless technology is the only methodology for improving upon patient care in a cost-effective and timely manner," observes Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Vivek Subramany.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (www.healthcare.frost.com), "U.S. Emerging Wireless Markets for Patient Care," reveals that revenues in this industry totaled $330.0 million in 2003 and are projected to reach $637.3 million by 2007.

If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides manufacturers, end-users and other industry participants an overview of the latest analysis of the "U.S. Emerging Wireless Markets for Patient Care," then send an email to Danielle White - Healthcare Media Relations Executive at [e-mail] with the following information: your full name, company name, title, telephone number, fax number and email. Upon receipt of the above information, an overview will be sent to you via e-mail.

The growing surge of medical error statistics revealing ADEs to be a substantial cause of death in hospitals are leading patients to demand that healthcare facilities implement wireless connectivity.

Medical professionals are also realizing the need for greater mobility within healthcare units as well as in remote care situations. Wireless technology has played a key role in making this possible. For instance, it has enabled the usage of handheld point-of-care applications for immediate access to life-critical information, irrespective of location within the facility.

With their huge potential to reduce medical errors, increase workflow efficiency, and thereby decrease overall costs, wireless solutions help healthcare professionals achieve one of their prime objectives -- providing better care with less financial expenditure.

Wireless technology is now growing to include the monitoring markets for inpatient and remote care as well. The idea of continuously monitoring a patient's vital signs and leaving little room for errors is quickly gaining ground and driving demand for wireless connectivity.

"As mobile technology and its adoption grow within the healthcare facility, demand for wireless connectivity outside the facility and in remote care situations is expected to grow substantially as well," says Subramany.

Emerging wide wide area network (WWAN) technology is likely to be an integral part of enabling healthcare in such remote situations. Although WWAN is a nascent technology, it is rapidly capturing the interest of several wireless vendors and established carriers that are looking to establish deployments in the near future.

The growing focus on enhanced patient safety and privacy by The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is also driving healthcare facilities to replace outdated technology with cutting-edge HIPAA-compliant solutions.

"As HIPAA and watchdog agencies such as Leapfrog continue to mandate security and privacy regulations, healthcare organizations are expected to continue spending on emerging wireless applications to ensure security within their wide local area networks (WLANs)," concludes Subramany.

"U.S. Emerging Wireless Markets for Patient Care," part of the Healthcare Information Technologies subscription, is a comprehensive analysis of the healthcare industry's current and future potential in adopting wireless technology. Detailed analysis of market opportunities, technologies and forecasts helps vendors understand the emerging and future wireless markets for patient care. Interviews are available to the press.

Frost & Sullivan, an international growth consultancy, has been supporting clients' expansion for more than four decades. Our market expertise covers a broad spectrum of industries, while our portfolio of advisory competencies includes custom strategic consulting, market intelligence and management training. Our mission is to forge partnerships with our clients' management teams to deliver market insights and to create value and drive growth through innovative approaches. Frost & Sullivan's network of consultants, industry experts, corporate trainers and support staff spans the globe with offices in every major country around the world.

           "U.S. Emerging Wireless Markets for Patient Care"
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The following is a list of key industry participants: 3Com, Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, CardioNet, Cisco Systems Inc., Cybernet Medical Corp., Eclipsys Technologies Corp., ePocrates Inc., GE Medical Systems, iMetrikus Inc., IngleWood Ventures, Mckesson Corp., MercuryMD Inc., Nortel Networks Ltd., PatientKeeper, Philips Medical Systems, Proxim Corp., QUALCOMM Inc., Science Applications International Corp., Siemens AG, Symbol Technologies, Vocera Communications.

Keywords in this release: Wireless solutions, United States, U.S., adverse drug effects, ADEs