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32 Medical Construction & Design | JA N UA RY/ F EBRUA RY 2018 | MCDM AG.COM TV viewing preferences and digital tech- nology in the U.S. have changed rapidly over the last few years. More people are going mobile and streaming self-curated content to their smartphone or tablet. The hospitality industry has embraced mobile technology to meet consumer demand for on-demand content. Hotels now provide input panels with power, USB, VGA and HDMI ports, allowing guests to use their personal mobile devices as receivers for audio and video content. Airlines, res- taurants and other entertainment venues off er free Wi-Fi, mobile check-in and other amenities onsite and on demand. As digital technology continues to evolve and content on demand becomes mainstay, hospitals are now challenged to adapt and enhance existing infrastructure to deliver entertainment and educational content to patients, families and care providers. Deployment of new digital infrastructure presents several consider- ations, including: > Unlike hotels, which are able to provide free and paid service levels, Wi-Fi infra- structure in hospitals is often insuffi cient to meet a scaled demand for service. How will this infrastructure be expanded to ad- dress access, demand and security? > Nursing staff may end up needing to treat both the patient and their technology as the demand for technology escalates. How will tech support be scaled to meet increasing demand? > Patients and visitors are bringing devic- es into the hospital. Such devices, which are historically safety-certifi ed by bio- medical engineering, remain unchecked for safety. Standard protocols for biomed safety certifi cation of equipment now need to be reconsidered in the digital age. > If education and entertainment content is to be delivered digitally, then a compre- hensive plan needs to be developed to ad- dress equipment and infrastructure. One option is to issue hospital-owned mobile devices to patients upon admission. Is this realistic or feasible? > Bed-mounted brackets may need to be added to hospital beds, since some patients may not be capable of supporting a tablet for extended periods. How will furnishings be adapted to accommodate use of digital devices by patients? > In hotels, guests control the content and the environment. Should content be controlled in the hospital? If so, what standards will be implemented to control content? > Digital communication allows for two- way, real-time communication, which can create a dynamic treatment environment for patients and a powerful teaching tool for academic medical environments. Is this part of the organization's vision and, if so, infrastructure and equipment will need to be carefully considered to ensure these Trends in healthcare TV, digital technology BY GARY BUSS MONITORING TECH