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Wireless Solutions for Healthcare
Specialized Programs for Equipment Vendors

Whether you provide medical equipment, telecommunications equipment, IT / LAN equipment, or facilities infrastructure equipment, you need to ensure the safe and effective deployment and use of your equipment in the wireless hospital. Comsearch provides a suite of services specifically targeted to equipment vendors that supports the installation of your equipment through comprehensive site surveys and audits. By identifying and troubleshooting interference problems with existing equipment, hospital-wide, Comsearch can implement cost-effective solutions. We can design and install building-wide cell phone and wireless systems that consider the medical device interference implications while still permitting use of wireless devices. We can manage the hospital rooftop to both mitigate interference concerns, and develop a potential revenue stream by leasing space for telecommunications systems. We can also maintain FCC licenses to ensure that they are properly filed and renewed. Comsearch can partner with you to successfully deploy wireless technologies in your customers' hospitals.

Contact us for more information about our specialized programs.

Equipment Installation Support

Comsearch ensures the safe deployment and effective use of your equipment in a hospital environment through:

• Site surveys and audits that identify optimum antenna locations and system configuration
• Channel sounding measurements that help identify and characterize the frequency environment both inside and outside the hospital
• Initial baseline and regular update spectrum sweeps of all potentially interfering frequency bands to consider direct and indirect interference sources
• Deployment and installation management of the wireless system

Comsearch supports all phases of equipment deployment from initial system design through customer acceptance with the following services:

• Initial Site Audit - Comsearch conducts measurements throughout the hospital to characterize the RF environment inside the building--considering those devices transmitting both inside and outside the hospital. In addition, we will develop a device inventory that can be used to keep track of both radiating and susceptible equipment. As part of the Site Audit, we characterize the frequency environment to identify operating frequencies for your equipment. We also use the results of these efforts to construct a database depicting RF energy by band throughout the hospital.
  
  
• In-building System Design - Using the results of the Initial Site Audit, we determine the optimum location and configuration of the in-building system components including access points, antennas, cabling, etc.

Interference Analysis and Resolution

There are documented cases of interference into medical and wireless equipment from a host of diverse sources including fluorescent light ballasts, microwave ovens, and broadcast stations to name only a few. Harmful Interference in a hospital can come from an array of sources, both inside and outside the hospital itself. X-ray machines, MRI, CAT scan, telemetry, paging, telephone, wireless PBX, walkie-talkies, aviation, wireless signaling, and building monitoring systems are just some of the electromagnetic devices that are abundant in the hospital environment. In addition, there can be several wireless LAN's throughout the hospital providing wireless networking for bedside care delivery, patient monitoring, and computer systems. Outside the hospital there can also be digital television, land mobile, and paging systems on the roof or otherwise nearby. All these systems and devices generate their own complex RF signatures that can cause interference, and most importantly - put patients at risk.

Harmful interference can occur in every corner of the hospital environment. Don't let your equipment become disabled because of it. If your customers are currently experiencing interference problems, or if they have experienced interference in the past, Comsearch can help you identify the sources, and develop a plan to fix the problems. Through a combination of signal measurements and analysis, we can provide you with a set of solutions that can virtually ensure that your customer's hospital remains interference-free. Our two-step process is detailed below:

• Site Audit - We will conduct measurements throughout the hospital to characterize the RF environment inside the building. We will consider those devices transmitting both inside and outside the hospital. In addition, we will develop a device inventory that you can use to keep track of both radiating and susceptible equipment. Through the results of these efforts Comsearch will construct a database depicting RF energy by band throughout the hospital.
  
  
• Analysis and Resolution - We will analyze the results of the Site Audit and determine the interference sources. Once we know the cause of the interference, Comsearch can then recommend the appropriate and cost-effective solutions and, in many cases, help to implement the corrective action.

Wireless Medical Telemetry Service (WMTS)

In response to growing concerns about interference resulting from new digitial television transmitters, low power television transmitters, and greater use of Private Land Mobile Radio equipment, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has done the following:

• Established the Wireless Medical Telemetry Service (WMTS), dedicating bands of frequencies to promote interference-free operation of medical telemetry systems. The WMTS bands are 608-614 MHz, 1395-1400 MHz and 1427-1432 MHz
• Appointed ASHE as the Frequency Coordinator for the WMTS bands
• Mandated that all transmitters operating in the WMTS bands must be registered with ASHE to ensure interference-free operation

ASHE has selected Comsearch as their technical partner in providing frequency coordination services in the WMTS bands. Comsearch provides a broad range of services to ASHE and its members including development of a WMTS device database and device registration capabilities.

Wireless Planning

Proper design and use of wireless technologies requires detailed planning and hospital-wide coordination. Comsearch can ensure the successful deployment, installation, and troubleshooting of wireless systems throughout the hospital. Working with all wireless stakeholders in the hospital, Comsearch will develop plans that consider current and future implications of wireless technologies. We consider issues not just within the hospital walls, but on the roof, in close-by areas such as the ED ambulance drive-up and loading docks, and in the general vicinity of the hospital building. Examples of our wireless planning services are:

• Help establish wireless policies
• Work with inter-department wireless stakeholders to coordinate wireless deployment strategies
• Develop plans to harmonize the use of wireless spectrum throughout the hospital
• Develop and implement a pro-active interference management program
• Inform or develop technology visions
• Inform or develop cell phone policies
• Develop RF device / asset database

Regulatory Support

The role of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cannot be overlooked as hospitals deploy wireless technologies. The FCC is constantly issuing rulemakings that can impact equipment vendors and hospitals both directly and directly. In addition, the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) plays a critical role in electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) issues in a hospital. Comsearch understands the activities of these regulatory bodies and their impact upon your customers' hospitals. Through our regulatory services, we can lift the burden of these issues and streamline your customers' licensing process by:

• Monitoring and interpreting FCC rulemakings
• Distilling and disseminating regulatory information
• Ensuring compliance with FDA / CRDH and AAMI TIR guidelines
• Maintaining FCC licenses
• Ensuring compliance with FCC, OSHA, and ANSI guidelines on radiation hazard exposure

Training

Do you or your customers need to learn more about wireless technologies and their impact on healthcare? Do you need to know more about electromagnetic compatibility issues in the hospital. Need more information on interference and its impact on your systems? What is Radiation Hazard and how does it affect you?

Comsearch has developed a training curriculum specifically targeted to help you answer these questions and others. We can not only help keep you abreast of developments in wireless technology, we can help you determine their impact upon your customers' hospitals.

Comsearch conducts courses at your site or in your local area. Please contact us for the latest course catalog and schedule.

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