How can 5G accelerate the potential of AI in healthcare (Potential + challenges)
The benefits of AI in the healthcare industry are vast and varied but to realize their full potential we would need to overcome some key infrastructure challenges. One of the major challenges is speed and connectivity. The 5G technology assures to accelerate the capability and speed which will maximize the potential of AI-based healthcare operations. While there are many ways in which 5G can help AI achieve the best scalability, it is still in the initial growing stage and there are some major challenges to overcome.
To provide optimal benefits to all patients and healthcare providers, the widespread uniform availability of 5G connection is quintessential- even in the remote regions. Looking at the requirement criteria 5G availability is a crucial requirement in the remote areas due to obvious reasons like limited access, large distances, and general lack of medical services.
The increasing scope of remote monitoring operations
5G would play a vital role in enhancing the scope and speed of remote monitoring operations through wearables and IoMT. It will empower the healthcare providers to provide prompt and personalized services to the patients by tracking their precise condition in real-time and getting automated alerts/notifications on crucial aspects.
Ensuring adherence to a prescribed health regime
Another benefit of 5G technology is to ensure that patients should precisely follow the prescribed health regime. The better remote connectivity would enable doctors to ensure that the patients should remain adhered to the recommended daily regime. Automated remote monitoring would also allow doctors to take prompt and informed decisions for a larger number of remote patients.
Quick transfer of large and complex files
5G would also facilitate the process of delivering large-sized files which will be instrumental in the wireless operation of X-rays, MRIs, etc. It would be especially useful in assisting AR and VR tools during more complicated medical instances.
Improved performance delivery of robotic surgeries
While robotic surgeries have already been conducted successfully there is still a need to improve the process. 5G can help in overcoming some crucial challenges in robotic surgery operations like reducing technical delays caused by geographical distances.
Challenges in widespread execution of 5G
While 5G would help healthcare AI in many ways, at the current stage it first needs to overcome some key challenges.
Incompatibility with 4G smartphones
One of the major issues in the widespread adoption of 5G is its incompatibility with current 4G smartphones. It will create a technical wall between patients and the doctors thus defeating the very purpose of introducing 5G in healthcare connectivity.
Connectivity limited to specific areas
The next challenge is that limited connectivity. Right now just a few metro areas are getting 5G coverage. In this scenario when even most of the average areas don’t have the 5G connectivity, it seems challenging to ensure its availability in the remote areas- the locations where 5G can offer maximum benefits due to the higher number of challenges in those areas.
Aligning in-house IT inventory with 5G requirements
The healthcare organizations also need to properly evaluate their in-house infrastructure ecosystem and digital tools inventory to make sure that they can tap the maximum potential of 5G connectivity.
Wrapping Up….
In short, switching from 4G to 5G is not a quick leap but a steady paced transition that requires graded development. It calls for a proper, well-thought strategy for transforming from conventional in-house legacy technologies to an inclusive wider technical stream.
