Factores determinantes para el despliegue de tecnología Li-Fi en instalaciones hospitalarias colombianas: un estudio exploratorio

Abstract

Wi-Fi technology is widely used to facilitate wireless connectivity, however, several studies have shown that prolonged exposure to its electromagnetic waves can pose risks to human health, interfere with medical devices, and involve security and data privacy issues.Their use in hospitals is therefore inappropriate. The high-frequency waves emitted by Wi-Fi cause vibration of water molecules in the human body, raising questions about their impact on health. Some studies link Wi-Fi to health problems such as cancer, infertilityand immune disorders. In response, Li-Fi has emerged as a safe alternative for wireless data transmission in hospitals. Li-Fi mitigates electromagnetic interference from Wi-Fi and improves connectivity within hospitals. Its implementation in Colombian hospitals is stilllimited, so it is necessary to understand the factors that influence its adoption. A future application of Li-Fi is data transmission in hospitals to mitigate Wi-Fi interference in biomedical equipment and protect patients' health. According to the literature, technical,economic, regulatory and governance factors can influence the adoption of Li-Fi in hospitals. This study explores such factors in Colombia to guide the implementation of Li-Fi and improve secure wireless connectivity in healthcare facilities. The results suggestthat migrating from Wi-Fi to Li-Fi in hospitals in Medellin - Colombia would improve safety, efficiency and quality of service.