Telemetry in a Large Hospital-A Look at the Future

The present value of telemetry in clinical care is limited. In ten years, however, it is possible that 40 patients will be under surveillance by telemetry at any one time in a 1000 bed hospital, with at least three channels of information associated with each patient. The technological base for broad medical use of telemetry exists already except for the serious lack of practical transducers. The real problems in implementing a telemetry program are electromagnetic interference, standardization, maintenance, security of components, location of patients, and reliability of day-to-day operation. It is urged that preferential consideration be given to manufacturers who recognize these problems and offer realistic proposals for their solution.