Healthcare's Fast Future

Health Management Technology, Oct, 2001 by Vincient J. Colwell

Like a speed-filled ride on the "Millenium Force," one of the fastest roller coasters in the world, today's array of emerging technologies leave even the tech savvy dizzy. Yet other technology innovations loom on the immediate horizon--those of Internet2, Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) and Internet Protocol Next Generation (IPng).

While the general public is still adapting to the current Internet, researchers and innovators continue to push the technology application envelope forward. Internet2 promises a speedier, more sophisticated network that provides an environment where first- and second-generation Internet users can coexist as they transmit or receive data, video and audio on demand.

Internet2 began in 1004 with recommendations from the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). It was designed "from the ground up" to take advantage of super-speed networks while meeting the needs of high-demand applications like video and audio streaming, as well as wireless enhancements. Special attention was given to the Internet's current security difficulties. Internet2 has more built-in security capabilities and potential to implement additional measures as the network expands.

Led by a consortium of research universities and telecommunications and networking providers, the project launched in 1996 to provide an alternative to the current, traffic-jammed Internet. Present benefactors of Internet2 include more than 150 universities and research institutions worldwide. Funding has come from several sources including the National Science Foundation that has allocated approximately $100 million; investment from private corporations makes up the majority of the balance. Partners in government agencies and select corporations are participating in ongoing research projects to develop and test new industry-specific applications and technologies far beyond what anyone imagined even a decade ago.

New Healthcare Frontiers

The healthcare industry stands to be a major beneficiary of this next-generation Internet. Development of many current applications has been hampered by the need for reliable, high-speed bandwidth and security. With the new Internet2 standards and associated technology, the healthcare industry will realize advances across the board, benefiting both high-end and low-end application users.

High-end applications like telesurgery or virtual surgery become viable without the need for costly, single-purpose telecommunications services. The ability to exploit the improved performance of Internet2 protocols using high-speed networks has researchers investigating the creation of virtual environments. These virtual environments will allow the user to "teleimmerse" in the remote environment or create a "telepresence" for the patient.

Research into virtual surgical environments is already underway at leading medical universities under the Internet2 project. Although physicians are already practicing complicated surgeries and demonstrating surgical techniques to peers and students, Internet2 broadens the reach and availability regardless of location.

However, the advantages are not exclusively realized with high-end applications, Internet2 will provide the key for lower-end applications by extending more healthcare into the home in an easier, more cost-effective and secure manner. Leading-edge healthcare providers are already breaking traditional boundaries of brick-and-mortar facilities. Specialty care providers are using the Internet to extend services to rural hospitals, providing greater access and quicker diagnoses. Disease management for diabetes patients is already being performed using Internet technologies to provide patient education, advice and support.

Home Users, Mobile Users

In addition, by using the Internet, physicians interact with patients through videoconferencing to provide counseling and managed treatment. These projects offer traditional institutions new options for extending their services. Internet2 technologies will provide the basis for enhancing and accelerating implementation of this type of outreach.

While not yet routine, telehomecare could use Internet2 as a springboard to become the standard of care for patients worldwide. An expanding number of sophisticated care procedures and protocols may now be applied to the home environment without incurring unacceptable risks or burdens for patients and their families.

Internet2 takes into consideration the growing number of the current Internet's mobile population. Portable home-monitoring units will become a reality with enhanced wireless capabilities and the development of mobile applications. Initially not designed to integrate with wireless technology, the current Internet is now stretched to capacity to support wireless users with increasing demands.

Internet2 incorporates wireless devices as part of its design. The new protocols offer more flexible access schemes than the fixed access points currently being used. This will allow healthcare providers to institute mobile healthcare management systems, letting chronically ill patients who need constant monitoring travel away from their homes, physician's office or hospital.