FCC to Vote on Establishing Spectrum for Medical Body Area Networks

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Julius Genachowski continued his push to free up unused portions of the wireless communications spectrum for medical body area networks during a May 17, 2012, FCC speaking event at the George Washington University Hospital. Medical body area networks are wireless patient monitoring systems that use low-cost wearable sensors to allow clinicians to remotely monitor the vital signs of patients. Presently, such sensors have to be attached directly to machines by wires, which can make it more difficult to care for patients, impede infection control, and potentially increase the chances of medical errors.