The Impact and Benefits of Internet of Things in Healthcare

How The IoT is Already Part of Healthcare

Communication through smart devices reduces in-person visits and lets patients manage their care from home. The IoT allows care providers to track factors like sleep, heart rate, temperature, physical activity and blood pressure, to name a few.

As with the hypothetical patient above, alerts are sent to both patients and providers when there is cause for concern, allowing for fast and convenient treatment. Devices such as Audemix help reduce the manual work that usually goes into charting patient data. Powered by voice commands, it captures information and makes it immediately accessible for review, ultimately saving about 15 hours per week for the physician.

Hearing aids are now connected to Bluetooth technology, letting patients easily adjust levels to suit their specific ears. Ingestible, pill-sized sensors made by companies like Proteus Digital Health monitor medications in the body. Moodables are headpieces that monitor brain waves to combat depression.

Computer Vision technology combined with drones and artificial intelligence (AI) helps the visually impaired navigate physical obstacles. Contact lenses can now help monitor blood sugar for diabetes patients.

Smart Fridge by Weka ensures that vaccines are stored at the right temperatures, streamlining the process for providers and analyzing trends to improve vaccine programs.

Smart inhalers are being developed by companies such as Novartis, Qualcomm, and Propeller Health to help patients of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and other lung conditions. The list goes on. The IoT is rapidly improving medical technology, easing the strain on doctors and patients alike.

Data Collection, Reporting & Monitoring

Before computers entered the healthcare scene, collecting patient data, storing it safely, and monitoring it took a lot of manual labor. Now, IoT technology can collect data and deliver it to the provider no matter where they are, what time it is, and what devices they use to read it. The IoT’s improvements to reporting can save lives.

Spotting problems in real-time allow for quicker and more effective treatment. Reporting emergencies through mobile apps allows medics to get information faster and provide higher quality care before the patient arrives at the hospital. Due to remote monitoring of heart failure, the Center of Connected Health Policy reported a reduction in readmission rates by 50 percent within 30 days.

Medical devices connected through Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and other technology send data to both the patient and physician. Providers can access final reports and graphs to determine a conclusion for treatment. Data collection in this form can speed up the decision-making process and significantly reduce human errors. Platforms like Kaa (KaaIoT Technologies), Azure (Microsoft), Insights Hub (Siemens), and others are improving the way medical data is collected and analyzed.

Medication Distribution

Several healthcare organizations are looking to use machines that administer prescriptions based on the dosage. They can also provide data on ailments through linked devices. Pill-sized sensors can monitor medication from inside the body. Distributing medication via automation lessens the need for manual monitoring, ultimately freeing up providers to focus on more pressing issues.

Affordability & Convenience

Utilizing machines to deliver patient care means that healthcare becomes increasingly affordable for all parties involved. Mobility solutions and other new technologies increase workflow productivity. The data collection, reporting, and analyses become more accurate, ultimately saving time and reducing the need for in-person visits.

That’s not just good for the patient, but for the healthcare organization as well, allowing them to reduce wait times and prioritize urgent cases. The IoT can also improve care while the patients are in the hospital, cutting down on expenses for all parties. It can also optimize surgery workflow, informing families about the patient’s progress and discharge in real-time.

Challenges

In addition to security are obstacles to accessibility. Internet access is not always readily available, particularly for many patients who are elderly, live in rural areas or are in low-income brackets.

For healthcare and IT departments, the sheer amount of data that comes in through connected devices can be overwhelming, also requiring a steep learning curve. Organizations that do not voluntarily adopt the IoT will likely take the longest to catch up with the bigger cities and institutions that do.

If IoT in healthcare sounds like a dream rather than a reality, it almost is. In certain situations, its challenges nearly outweigh the benefits. Security is the most pressing concern about IoT in healthcare. The goals to collect, manage, and store data without risking the hacking of confidential information are ongoing.

As a nation, the United States has a long way to go before achieving a full-proof method. Companies like EHR Integration Services are working on vastly improving security in medical data storage. Even when this issue is resolved, the technology will almost require extensive training for both physicians and administrators. Many healthcare organizations don’t yet have the time or resources to implement the technology, the time, or the training.

Despite the challenges, the future of healthcare will undoubtedly involve the IoT. It is certain that the IoT will revolutionize the medical industry in unprecedented ways. Improving small parts of already-existing products will bring about significant positive change in healthcare and in the lives of patients worldwide.

With higher levels of intelligence, connectivity, and more sophisticated gathering and monitoring of data, new scientific achievements are possible every day. The results are higher efficiency, reduced waste, and healthier lifestyles. That is just the beginning of a future where the medical systems work to their fullest potential.