Hey Reader,

Nobody disputes mobility is an important part of healthcare workflows yet mobile devices are viewed as luxury offered only to a few select resources. Why is this? Part of it is that mobile devices are viewed as "smartphones" that require expensive devices with expensive cellular subscriptions. Another challenge is the difficulty of sharing a fleet of mobile devices that can become lost, stolen or abused. The last and most important item, is the app ecosystem needs to be able to deliver the situational awareness that mobility offers. This stalemate can be broken with the right mobility strategy.

TLDR:

Healthcare's mobile adoption standoff can be broken through indoor positioning systems (IPS) and location-aware technologies, creating a foundation for AI-enabled care delivery and operational efficiency.

Key Concepts:

Indoor Positioning Systems (IPS): A technology that brings GPS-like location awareness indoors, utilizing Wi-Fi signal fingerprinting to determine precise locations, including floor numbers. Through SLAM (Simultaneous Location and Mapping), these systems create an effective indoor GPS network.

Fleet Management: Enterprise tools for managing shared mobile devices across an organization, often implemented through Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions like Jamf.

Detailed Explanation:

The mobile evolution in healthcare isn't just about putting phones in people's hands—it's about fundamentally transforming how care is delivered. Modern mobile devices are essentially powerful computers with comprehensive sensor arrays, capable of seeing, hearing, and even feeling their surroundings through Lidar technology.

The Adoption Stalemate

While consumer tech has embraced mobile-first strategies—exemplified by Facebook's strategic acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp—healthcare has maintained a cautious stance. Facebook, and later many other consumer vendors, predicted the ubiquity of the mobile devices for consumers, but enterprise devices have not enjoyed the same expansion. This hesitation creates an interesting paradox: a mobile standoff between vendors and healthcare providers that's ripe for disruption.

Openings are Starting to Show Up

The chicken-and-egg problem in healthcare mobile adoption presents a unique challenge: vendors await hospital investment in mobile infrastructure while hospitals wait for a compelling app ecosystem. However, we're seeing signs of this gridlock breaking. Forward-thinking institutions like Henry Ford Health have taken the lead by equipping all nurses with iPhones, while enterprise solution providers like Jamf report significant year-over-year ARR growth.

It Requires and Overall Mobility Strategy

A successful mobility strategy is critical to a successful location-based services strategy. A mature location-based services strategy is going to make core HIS systems location aware. This means the ERP, EHR and Departmental Systems are going to be enabled to use location. We have already seen the amazing user experiences we get from GPS outdoor and with IPS we can get them indoors. Combine IPS, RTLS and a strong app ecosystem and keyboard liberation is within our grasp. Let's look at what a mobile strategy might look like.

No Need to Overspend

It is not necessary to purchase the latest model of smartphone to have a successful mobility strategy. With the apps and workflows driving the requirements, devices that are several versions behind will work fine. In early 2025, with the iPhone 16 out, Apple is still selling iPhone 13's new. These devices will get OS updates and function well for several years while keeping pace with the apps that are in the market. Cellular accounts should be viewed as a feature that is part of the app ecosystem and necessary only for users that need synchronous communications. Texting and messaging through apps works fine across the Wi-Fi.

Shared First Before Dedicated

Many workflows can use shared mobile devices with great success. Support services users can check-out a device at the beginning of their shift and return them at the end. This also keeps the cost down, but it does present a challenge with management of the fleet. Sharing the devices can be done safely with MDM and Fleet Management tools like NavvTrack. The shared strategy can be a bridge toward 1-1, dedicated devices when the mobility program has "earned the right" to take that step.

The App Ecosystem

Healthcare information system vendors have apps and a mobile strategy to streamline clinical workflows. While these solutions continue to evolve with increasing mobile adoption, modern healthcare workflows often require multiple apps working in concert, necessitating a robust app ecosystem. Mobile platforms excel beyond desktop environments by delivering information exactly when and where users need it. Although voice communication remains valuable, asynchronous communication through text messaging and real-time server notifications enhances overall situational awareness—a cornerstone of Care Traffic Control. Location awareness further amplifies these capabilities.

Location with Mobility is Critical

Indoor positioning technology represents a transformative advancement in healthcare operational systems. One version of this is SLAM (simultaneous location and mapping). Similar to how GPS satellites provide unique signatures for outdoor locations, Wi-Fi networks create distinct signal fingerprints throughout indoor spaces. Apple Indoor works with SLAM but only on Apple devices. There are other options for IPS that we can discuss in future posts.

When coupled with RTLS for tracking of medical equipment, an app that uses IPS will allow the user to see exactly where they are at in reference to the devices they are looking for. Healthcare facilities can instantly locate critical resources like IV pumps and automatically document care delivery timing without manual intervention. Additionally, this capability supports asset management by helping locate misplaced devices and securing them before loss occurs.

The Future of Mobility

Looking ahead, the future of healthcare mobility lies in AI-enabled assistive agents. These agents will be mobile-first and location-aware and anticipate healthcare workers' needs. However, this vision requires a strong foundation of mobile device infrastructure and location awareness—a foundation that needs to be built today.

Key Takeaways:

• Indoor positioning systems can break the healthcare mobile adoption standoff by providing immediate value through resource tracking and workflow optimization
• Modern mobile devices offer more than communication—they're sensor-rich computers that can dramatically improve healthcare operations
• The transition to real-time healthcare requires mobile tools that provide immediate situational awareness, similar to aviation industry standards
• Success in mobile implementation doesn't necessarily require individual device assignment—effective fleet management can make shared devices viable

Conclusion:

Mobile devices are critical to optimizing mobile workflows. The path to AI-enabled healthcare runs through mobile adoption and location awareness. Healthcare organizations can't afford to wait for the perfect ecosystem to emerge—they need to take active steps toward mobile integration today. Visit WhyWhereMatters.com to learn more about implementing location-based services in your healthcare organization.

Until next week,

Paul E Zieske ​Location Based Services Consulting ​​​