5G and intelligence medicine-how the next generation of wireless technology will reconstruct healthcare?

Abstract

Despite intensive efforts, there are still enormous challenges in provision of healthcare services to the increasing aging population. Recent observations have raised concerns regarding the soaring costs of healthcare, the imbalance of medical resources, inefficient healthcare system administration, and inconvenient medical experiences. However, cutting-edge technologies are being developed to meet these challenges, including, but not limited to, Internet of Things (IoT), big data, artificial intelligence, and 5G wireless transmission technology to improve the patient experience and healthcare service quality, while cutting the total cost attributable to healthcare. This is not an unrealistic fantasy, as these emerging technologies are beginning to impact and reconstruct healthcare in subtle ways. Although the technologies mentioned above are integrated, in this review we take a brief look at cases focusing on the application of 5G wireless transmission technology in healthcare. We also highlight the potential pitfalls to availability of 5G technologies.

Keywords: 5G; artificial intelligence; big data; healthcare; the Internet of Things.

Figure 1

Basic features of 5G technology. IoT, Internet of Things.

Figure 2

Schematic drawing illustrating applications of 5G technology in healthcare. VR, virtual reality.