AAMIBlog

Hey, Information Security, how’s it going? You may remember me, Bob in IT. Thanks for meeting me over coffee. Did you order already? I did, too. While we’re waiting for them to bring it out, let me tell you about the conversation I had with our biomed colleagues. They heard about the recent WannaCry ransomware […]

What’s a medical device? The courts are going to have a field day for years to come with the first of what I predict will be many lawsuits about alleged inaccuracies in the growing number of consumer health and fitness products. A class-action lawsuit, alleging faulty heart-rate monitoring with an activity tracking device, has made […]

The decision this past summer by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to allow TV White Space (TVWS) devices to share Channel 37 with Wireless Medical Telemetry Service (WMTS) systems changes the spectrum environment in an important way. Hospitals and other healthcare organizations have a three-to-five-year planning horizon to prepare for this change. While that may […]

On Aug. 6, 2015, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the use of TV White Space (TVWS) devices in the 600 MHz band. As part of the order, TVWS devices are allowed to share Channel 37 with Wireless Medical Telemetry Service (WMTS) systems that operate there. Hospitals and healthcare organizations that operate WMTS systems on […]

My name is Kevin, and I’m a millenial. Based on the stereotypes alone, that means I’m entitled, impatient, impetuous, and addicted to Snapchat. And if I’m being honest with myself, I mostly agree (except for the Snapchat part). I’d like to think that my millenial, call it, “impertinence,” isn’t my fault. I’ve grown up in […]

Sometimes a glitch in your routine can give you new insight into the far more serious challenges that other professionals wrestle with every day. Let me explain. At AAMI headquarters, we have a large conference room, equipped with roughly 25 wireless microphones, where various committees, working groups, and visitors discuss important issues related to healthcare […]

What does a deadly virus outbreak in West Africa have to do with the future of medical devices? More than you might think. An article in The Boston Globe describes an effort at Massachusetts General Hospital to improve remote technology and medical device interoperability. The outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus galvanized various stakeholders to […]

The focus of healthcare information technology during the past few years has been on the rollout of new electronic health records and the demands of meeting government-mandated meaningful use. Many of these applications and other devices are dependent on an extensive, secure Wi-Fi network. Having a Wi-Fi network throughout their healthcare facilities has allowed organizations […]

In February, the Federal Communications Commission published a preliminary Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) outlining its intent to expand the current 5 GHz ISM band. In March, the fledgling AAMI Wireless Task Force discussed this proposal and decided to bring a group of interested parties together to draft a comment to the FCC. The goal of the […]

AAMI recently convened a two-day meeting to follow up on last fall’s Wireless Workshop, which outlined several broad themes, including: Clarify roles and responsibilities. Manage the spectrum to improve safety and security. Design the wireless infrastructure for high reliability. Learn from other industries. Manage risk and prevent failure: Patient safety comes first. Under the expert leadership […]