The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to a network of physical objects connected through the Internet. These physical objects include technologies that interact with internal factors as well as the external environment. The Internet of Things is being widely used in transportation, agriculture, environment, energy, emergency, medical, retail, smart home, supply chain, smart city and lifestyle fields. The use of IoT in healthcare has increased significantly in recent years and is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.
The various benefits offered by IoT in the healthcare sector are mainly classified into tracking of devices, staff and patients; identification and authentication of persons; automated data collection; and sensing. By providing these benefits, IoT in healthcare is proving to be an important solution for managing various healthcare costs. In addition to providing better disease management, IoT in healthcare enables stakeholders, especially providers and patients, to enhance patient care and outcomes, reduce costs, reduce errors, and improve patient experience. IoT solutions and services are replacing traditional diagnostic and treatment procedures with advanced technologies. Users of IoT in healthcare include hospitals, medical professionals, clinics, and patients. Government authorities, research institutions, and diagnostic laboratories are also using IoT in medical technology to develop cost-effective, advanced products and solutions.
Here are four factors driving the growth of IoT adoption in the healthcare industry:
1. The need to optimize the productivity of medical staff
The need to optimize healthcare worker productivity is another key factor driving the development of medical IoT. By extending the network of connected devices to healthcare workers, it becomes possible to create more collaborative operational systems, facilitating better communication between different departments. IoT-enabled features, such as remote patient monitoring, enhance patient care, which helps reduce medical errors and malpractice claims. IoT also has the potential to improve the operations of healthcare organizations, thereby increasing the current quality of systems and optimizing operations.
Some applications can use available data to optimize scheduling to ensure the right staff is assigned to the right patient at the right time. Additionally, by providing clinical training, the app can promote optimal use of personnel and equipment.
2. Growing interest in self-measurement of health
People’s growing desire to monitor their health is another factor driving demand for connected medical devices. Wearable devices such as fitness bands, glucose meters, and blood pressure monitors help track activity throughout the day. This collected data is stored in connected devices and can be used to analyze the patient’s health. With the use of these devices, the cost of regular check-ups can be significantly reduced as patients are able to analyze their own medical parameters and make adjustments accordingly. These trends in self-health measurement have impacted the demand for IoT for medical devices and systems, providing potential opportunities for companies to develop such devices.
3. Increased adoption of smart devices and wearables
Smart devices include smartphones, tablets, and wearable devices such as smart bracelets, smart shoes, smart clothing, smart watches, sleep headphones, and other technologies that collect, transmit, and/or analyze information and data. Many wearable devices have received significant attention due to their functionality, such as devices for patients with chronic diseases. Additionally, some devices have additional features, such as a button that can instantly send an alert for emergency medical help. These connected devices can record vital data throughout the day and wirelessly transmit it to user devices such as tablets, smartphones and computers. These devices are considered valuable tools for reducing healthcare costs, and their adoption is therefore increasing.
Additionally, smartphones with built-in sensors and mobile applications that store health information are another driver of the IoT market in the medical field. These apps can connect to wearable devices to record data.
4. Medical needs in remote areas
Many areas, especially in developing and less developed countries, have limited or no access to health services. Patients in these areas have to travel long distances to get routine check-ups or disease diagnosis at medical facilities. Telemedicine and IoT-enabled medical devices can help these patients communicate with medical professionals from their homes. As a result, it may be possible to reduce the prevalence of certain diseases in these areas.
Expanding IoT medical services in these regions will be beneficial to companies providing technology. This includes providing real-time video, remote patient monitoring, mobile health, and more. Additionally, in May 2018, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) made telehealth a cornerstone of its first-ever rural health strategy. CMS also unveiled its first-ever program to improve access to care for Americans living in rural and underserved communities.
challenge
While IoT solutions for the healthcare industry offer various benefits, there are still some challenges that need to be addressed. The increase in new types of medical data collected through IoT devices, such as EHR data, digital pathology data, sensor data, diagnostic data from digital imaging devices, and research data from genomes, has resulted in a plethora of data that needs to be stored and processed. Such large amounts of data pose serious challenges to the healthcare industry. Additionally, there are numerous security concerns related to breaches of sensitive patient data, which are at risk of being exploited by criminals to obtain false insurance claims. To reduce the risks associated with data storage, organizations need to develop advanced security policies that enhance data privacy.
In recent years, the digitization of health records has helped streamline work tasks, but it has also caused productivity to lag as technology is adopted. A Harvard research team found that of 1.04 million medication errors, 63,040 were related to computerized physician order entry, which accounted for almost 6%. Such documentation errors highlight the need for hands-on training of physicians to teach better record-handling skills.
Resuma
Research shows that nearly 60% of medical institutions around the world are already using the Internet of Things to provide better care for patients. With solutions such as patient monitoring, smart pills, and low-power positioning, IoT can help improve the quality of life for more people, thereby reducing healthcare spending. Despite some challenges, adoption rates are increasing significantly due to the various benefits offered.
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