This document discusses broadband internet and its applications in healthcare. It defines different types of broadband technologies like DSL, cable, fiber optic, and wireless and examines their usage trends over time. The document also outlines how telehealth uses broadband to connect rural clinics and reduce costs, and discusses challenges like network security and bandwidth limitations. Finally, it examines the economic and business challenges of implementing broadband in healthcare.

1. Presented by Tommy Nguyen
PAD 747
2 December 2012

2.  High-speed Internet that allows users to use
the Internet at a higher speed than dial-up
 Speeds can range from 200 kilobits per second
(kbps) to 100 megabits per second (Mbps)
 Sound, images, and text are delivered as “bits”
of data

3.  Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)-transmits data
faster over copper telephone lines
 Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)- used
in residential homes
 Symmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (SDSL)- used in
businesses
 Cable Modem- provided through the cables
that connect to your TV. (comparable to DSL or
faster)
 Fiber Optic- sends data as light through glass
fibers (faster than DSL and Cable)

4.  Wireless or wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi)- short-
range tech that is used in conjunction with DSL
or a cable modem
 Mobile broadband
 Satellite- provides more coverage, but speeds
are slower than DSL and cable

5. Percentage
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
May-96
Nov-96
May-97
Nov-97
May-98
Nov-98
May-99
Nov-99
May-00
Nov-00
May-01
Month/Year
Nov-01
May-02
Nov-02
v. Dialup
May-03
Nov-03
May-04
Nov-04
Dialup
Trends in Home Internet Access: Broadband
Broadband at Home

6.  The Alaska Federal Healthcare Access Network (AFHCAN) links at least
248 sites throughout the state. These sites include military sites, regional
hospitals, and small village clinics.
 The 82-site Missouri Telehealth Network provides services in medical
specialties such as radiology, cardiology, and mental health by using fiber
optic broadband. As of today, 57,500 Teleradiology exams have been
conducted.
 The ANGELS program sponsored by the University of Arkansas links
physicians to pregnant women to 40 sites in rural communities to reduce
the rate of low birth weight babies and better pre-natal care.

7.  The United States spent nearly $2.6 trillion in
2010
 Also, the US spends $7,960 per capita as of 2009
 Health expenditures accounted for 17.9% of the
nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2010

8. Total Expenditures on Health as a
Percentage of GDP
18
16
14
12
Percentage
10
8
6
4
2
0
1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2009
Year

9.  Reduce costs
 A study done by Penn State University estimated that
remote health monitoring with the use of broadband cut
costs from approximately $283,000 to about $87,000 per
patient for one group of diabetes patients, a difference of
$196,000 or 69%
 Reduce waste by digitalizing health records and
eliminating the traditional method of record-
keeping
 Connect rural communities to hospitals and
caregivers
 Illinois is using DSL and cable to link medical education
and training to 52 rural hospitals via
videoconferencing, web streaming, and satellite
broadcasts

10. 1. Network security
 Sensitive information could end up in the wrong
hands
2. Transmission bandwidth
 There may not be enough bandwidth in some cases
to video conference, or use two-way audio

11.  The Recovery Act was passed on February
13, 2009 which invested $7 billion to expand
broadband access nationwide that improved
broadband connectivity in rural areas, and
increased the Internet capability in
libraries, hospitals, schools, and other
community buildings
 National Broadband Plan (NBP) provide
plans, goals, and suggestions for improving the
access of broadband, affordability, and high-
speed Internet performance.

12. 1. Creating economic incentives for using broadband
2. Congress, states, and the Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services should reduce barriers that
prevent the adoption of health information
technology
3. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health
Information Technology (ONC) should
standardize protocols for sharing clinical data and
research
4. FCC should establish funds to subsidize network
operation to health care delivery areas where
existing networks are deficient

13.  Business challenges
 difficult to provide and increase access to broadband, while remaining
cost-effective
 In 2010, the Massachusetts Broadband Institute provided $71 million
in funding for constructing broadband infrastructure. However, a
business model for telecommunications is missing to provide
affordable broadband service to customers, particularly in rural areas
where it is difficult to provide service to a low population area for an
affordable price
 Economic challenges
 The idea and utilization of broadband in health is still relatively new
and will remain experimental for some time, thus pilot programs that
were mentioned previously will continue to be extra expenditures and
will continue to add to the health budget

14.  Government could reduce health care
costs, and close the economic gap between the
wealthy and those who are unable to afford it
 “electronic health records and remote monitoring
technology could alone create over $700 billion in net
savings over 15-25 years.” – (FCC, 2012)
 Improve the quality of care
 Health care can be more easily accessible for
patients who live in communities that are far
away from centers.