The joint statement says that
the FDA and the FCC should encourage investment in wireless medical technology,
ensure that all devices operate safely, and streamline regulatory processes,
including by clarifying the agencies’ jurisdiction over wireless devices. 

Wireless health technology can
include everything from pumps that deliver insulin to diabetes patients, to
remote monitoring systems that measure the level of glucose in a patient’s
body, to sensors that send text messages to a doctor if a patient’s state
changes.  

Wireless devices will allow
healthcare providers to “transition from facility-centric care to
patient-centric care,” Hamburg said.

The partnership comes on the heels of the FCC’s move this month to
create a $400 million fund for broadband infrastructure projects at medical
facilities.