With the growing demand for secure and reliable connectivity in healthcare, private and hybrid 5G networks have emerged as transformative solutions. By enabling low-latency connectivity, seamless device integration, and high data security, these networks empower healthcare organizations to improve operations, enhance patient care, and drive innovation. A 2023 IDC report commissioned by T-Mobile highlights how hybrid 5G networks can reduce costs by 25–40% while delivering significant operational improvements.
This article explores how healthcare organizations can adopt private and hybrid 5G networks to solve for their technology, operational, and business outcome requirements.
Healthcare organizations face significant challenges that limit the performance of traditional networks:
Increasingly stringent privacy laws (e.g., HIPAA/HITRUST, GDPR, CCPA, etc.) require the highest levels of data protection.
Hospitals operate with thousands of connected medical devices, from infusion pumps to wearables.
Applications like AI diagnostics, telehealth, and robotic surgeries need ultra-low latency.
Hybrid 5G combines private networks (for mission-critical workloads) with public cellular networks (for scalability and mobility). This model provides:
Healthcare organizations often lack the internal expertise, resources, and time to design, implement, and manage transformative 5G deployments. This is where vendor-agnostic Managed Services Providers (MSPs) bring value. Rather than simply advocating for specific vendor solutions, these MSPs focus on aligning technology with operational requirements and desired business outcomes.
MSPs work with clients to design hybrid 5G networks that meet specific operational needs, whether for critical IoT systems, telehealth platforms, or secure data exchange. By remaining vendor-agnostic, they recommend the best combination of hardware, software, and cloud solutions for each use case.
MSPs focus on the bigger picture—improving patient satisfaction, reducing operational costs, and meeting compliance standards. They assess how 5G can deliver measurable ROI, such as reducing care delivery delays and enabling value-based care initiatives.
Experienced MSPs ensure that healthcare networks are built for long-term reliability and security. They implement zero-trust architectures, network slicing for prioritization, and redundancy planning to keep critical systems online even during disruptions.
Many healthcare organizations already operate legacy systems and complex IT ecosystems. MSPs specialize in the seamless integration of 5G with existing technologies like EHRs, PACS, and IoT analytics platforms, avoiding costly downtime.
MSPs design networks with the flexibility to scale as operational demands grow, such as adding more IoT devices or enabling new AI-powered applications. They also future-proof the network for emerging technologies like augmented reality (AR) in surgical training.
A case study highlighted in the IDC report illustrates how Boston Children’s Hospital leveraged a hybrid 5G network powered by T-Mobile to improve care delivery:
This case demonstrates the value of designing a hybrid 5G network that addresses both clinical workflows and broader operational goals, with business outcomes like reduced costs and better patient experiences.
MSPs assist with navigating regulatory frameworks, such as obtaining CBRS licenses for private networks.
Hybrid models balance upfront infrastructure costs with long-term operating expenses, ensuring high ROI.
MSPs help implement robust cybersecurity measures, ensuring adherence to HIPAA and other regulatory requirements.
Private and hybrid 5G networks are driving transformative change in healthcare—allowing for better patient care, optimized hospital operations, and groundbreaking medical innovations. However, leveraging these networks effectively requires going beyond just adopting new technology; it requires a deliberate focus on operational alignment and business outcomes.
By partnering with vendor-agnostic MSPs, healthcare organizations can ensure that their 5G deployments are designed to address their unique challenges, integrate with existing systems, and scale for future needs. With the right strategies, healthcare leaders can harness hybrid 5G to improve efficiency, enhance patient outcomes, and deliver on the promise of next-generation healthcare.
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Working at Advantage as a VP of Strategic Global Accounts, Sam Riegel is a technology professional with extensive experience managing and owning relationships across numerous industry verticals and technologies. Sam has worked with several global healthcare companies in addition to supporting enterprises in a variety of other sectors, such as financial, education, pharma/biotech, technology, manufacturing, insurance, and government.