In a study conducted by Spyglass Consulting Group, 90% of hospitals surveyed revealed they are investing in smartphones and secure mobile communications for clinical improvements. Nowadays, doctors and nurses frequently use their own mobile phones for timely communication to coordinate patient care, or to talk to patient family members and caregivers who may be waiting outside the building or at home to find out the medical status of their loved ones.
Cellular phones have also become a necessity for hospital patients to connect with their family, friends, and others during a hospital stay, or while waiting for a medical appointment. The ability to communicate is an important factor in patient satisfaction.
However, it’s not uncommon for hospitals to be plagued with poor indoor cellular reception. This is due in large part to facility construction. For example, many hospital walls are fortified to contain X-ray radiation, and new construction usually features energy-efficient materials such as Low-E windows that are known for blocking cellular signals. A number of other factors can impact poor cellular reception as well, including the size of the building, location, and environmental obstacles such as other buildings or hilly terrain.
The number of users on a network can also affect cellular coverage, which is why coverage can vary between time of day, or day of the week. Some hospitals may have installed cellular amplification systems a few years ago that only boost 2G or 3G signal, so are inadequate to provide coverage in a world of 4G and 5G cellular devices.
Choosing the right solution
There are several solutions available that can amplify 3G/4G/5G signal indoors to ensure reliable cellular communication, and are offered at different price points, installation and maintenance requirements, and coverage footprints.
At GetWireless, we recommend Cel-fi QUATRA, an active DAS hybrid developed by Nextivity for large commercial buildings under one million sq. ft. It can be installed in just weeks at a price point that fits most budgets. It uses digital technology to deliver uniform signal up to 1000x stronger than older analog systems, simultaneously for all carriers. It uses Ethernet cabling from the head-end to the remote units with Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) so additional power outlets are not needed throughout the building, and can use off-air signal or a small cell for a signal source. The Cel-Fi WAVE application makes antenna positioning and commissioning easy, and provides remote system management for future maintenance.
Hear what system integrators have to say about Cel-Fi QUATRA
“We were able to solve the problem with the active DAS hybrid because it can deliver a cellular signal that is powerful enough to penetrate through the lead-lined walls to provide coverage inside those labs.”
“We chose the active DAS hybrid because we are very impressed with how the product works. Plus, it is readily available and easy to commission versus an active DAS that requires months of contract negotiation. We were able to install the system in one weekend in a 40,000 square foot building, with no tenant disruption at all.”
“One of the best advantages of the Cel-Fi QUATRA units compared to competitive products is the coverage and how much better it works. I’ve done analytics when designing other competitive solutions to determine how far an indoor antenna would go compared to a Passive DAS requiring coax cable. QUATRA’s ease of installation and the coverage spread is always going to overcome any others that are similar to its range.”
To find out more about Cel-Fi QUATRA,