Project: IEEE P802.15 Working Group for Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs)

1. Project: IEEE P802.15 Working Group for Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs) Submission Title: [Configuring and maintaining medical wireless networks] Date Submitted: [10 July 2008] Source: [Leanne Cordisco] Company [GE Healthcare] Address [] Voice:[Add telephone number], FAX: [Add FAX number], E-Mail:[leanne.cordisco@med.ge.com] Re: [If this is a proposed revision, cite the original document.] [If this is a response to a Call for Contributions, cite the name and date of the Call for Contributions to which this document responds, as well as the relevant item number in the Call for Contributions.] [Note: Contributions that are not responsive to this section of the template, and contributions which do not address the topic under which they are submitted, may be refused or consigned to the “General Contributions” area.] Abstract: [Description of document contents.] Purpose: [Description of what the author wants P802.15 to do with the information in the document.] Notice: This document has been prepared to assist the IEEE P802.15. It is offered as a basis for discussion and is not binding on the contributing individual(s) or organization(s). The material in this document is subject to change in form and content after further study. The contributor(s) reserve(s) the right to add, amend or withdraw material contained herein. Release: The contributor acknowledges and accepts that this contribution becomes the property of IEEE and may be made publicly available by P802.15.

2. Configuring and Maintaining Wireless Medical Networks Leanne Cordisco GE Healthcare Healthcare IT Program Manager leanne.cordisco@med.ge.com

3. Objectives • Medical device network configuration issues • FDA testing • Site surveys • 03: No dead spots, no interference, no downtime • Medical device network maintenance issues • Medical device lifespan • Turf wars • Upgrading medical devices

4. Configuration Issues for Wireless Medical Networks • Pre-Install for an Isolated Network • Site survey and network design • Existing systems? • Interference • Capacity • Physical structure considerations • Pre-Install for Shared Infrastructure • Existing SSIDs • Existing security • Existing capacity • Physical structure considerations

5. Configuration Issues for Wireless Medical Networks • FDA risk mitigation testing • Manufacturers do not test medical devices on an open network, rather on a dedicated network with only the devices under test • Impossible to predict all risk associated with adding specific medical devices to an integrated HCIT infrastructure

6. Configuration Issues for Wireless Medical Networks • Go Live • Zero dead spots • Zero downtime • Zero interference Failure to achieve this goal can result in significant patient harm or death in as little as 2 minutes

7. Maintenance Issues for Wireless Medical Networks • Life span for medical devices exceeds infrastructure • Medical device lifespan up to 15 years • 3-5x longer than infrastructure • IT support model: standardize hardware, with controlled images • √Nearly impossible with medical devices • Maintenance and support burden increases with every change • Manufacturers must support devices for 7 years after last sale

8. Maintenance Issues for Wireless Medical Networks • Turf wars • Medical device support personnel frequently denied access to infrastructure • Medical device support personnel frequently unaware of network changes, find out upon failure

9. Maintenance Issues for Wireless Medical Networks • Upgrading a wireless infrastructure • FDA 510k approval necessary for upgrades if changes affect form, fit, and function • If form, fit, and function is not changed, V&V is performed by the manufacturer • V&V testing consumes valuable resources

10. Consider the Technician • Common skill set for biomedical engineer • 40-55 year old male • 20+ years experience in same role • If it ain’t broke don’t fix it • Skilled worker shortage in 5-10 years