Hello, amazing one. You are welcome to our blog post on IoT in healthcare.
IoT is currently transforming the healthcare industry in many ways. It is redefining a lot of practices and interactions between medical experts and patients. According to Wipro, IoT is delivering healthcare solutions …that benefit “patients, families, physicians, hospitals and insurance companies.”
This blog post discusses IoT healthcare applications, IoT healthcare benefits
and IoT healthcare challenges.
Understanding IoT in the Healthcare Industry
IoT is reshaping different industries including the healthcare sector. In the healthcare sector, IoT integration with connected devices and other technologies enables seamless exchange of data.
There is also data processes and analysis which leads to insights for improving three important things; patient care, monitoring, and overall healthcare management.
One of the most common uses of IoT in healthcare applications is the use of connected devices. These devices include wearables, sensors, and medical equipment. They are built with smart sensors and connected to a network. They function by collecting data in real-time
IoT devices collect real-time data on patient vitals, activities, medication adherence, etc. The generated data are analysed for useful insights on patients’ health conditions. This enables early interventions and in the long run, saves money, serious complications and early death.
The importance of IoT healthcare is in how the technology also enables remote patient monitoring. The technology allows medical professionals to easily monitor their patients from remote locations.
This is a good development in the healthcare sector because it includes non-clinic settings. IoT patient monitoring goes from monitoring heart attacks, and heart beat rates, to chronic conditions. It is also very useful in managing post-operative care without frequent visits to see the doctors.
Additionally, IoT is a leading technology that improves managerial functions, especially asset management. With connected devices, hospital management can easily keep track of their equipment locations.
With this development in place, they can easily check for their safety and maintenance status. This helps healthcare management to easily optimise resource allocation. It is viable in reducing issues of equipment loss or theft.
Overall, IoT in healthcare is important because it offers reliable methods for achieving these three things; efficiency, accuracy, and quality of care in the healthcare industry. IoT healthcare applications also offer real time data collection, advanced analysis and remote monitoring.
The technology offers all of these with the aim of improving patient outcomes using different proactive interventions. These interventions are of course based on actions from all the insights that IoT devices offer.
IoT Healthcare Applications
IoT in healthcare is changing the industry for a lot of good. Technology is becoming very powerful in enabling and driving innovation in the healthcare industry. IoT allows for the optimal adoption of innovative applications for improving patient care.
Let us take a deeper look at different IoT healthcare applications.
IoT for remote patient monitoring
One important application of IoT in healthcare is remote patient monitoring. The technology powers different devices and wearables like sensors to offer the possibility of remotely monitoring the vital signs and health conditions of patients.
Remote monitoring is important in the medical care line because it allows for strict monitoring of abnormalities or changes in a patient’s health status.
This leads to timely interventions for the right people thereby reducing the need to visit hospitals and discover critical conditions at the late hours.
Some of the remote monitoring devices may include
- Smartwatches
- Activity trackers
- Phones,
- Wearable sensors.
IoT for medication adherence
IoT for medication adherence is another important application in the healthcare sector.
In this case, we can talk about the use of smart pill dispensers, connected medicated packaging, and others. This helps patients to comply with doctor’s prescriptions and take their medications at the right time.
These technologies can automatically remind patients/caregivers when it’s time to take/give medications. They are also good at offering timely notifications when dosses are not adhered to.
IoT adherence innovation plays a great role in improving adherence rates. This also means it helps industry experts to keep up with doctor’s prescriptions.
Overall, the use of this technology is highly beneficial, especially for individuals with chronic diseases who require strict medication regimens.
Some good examples of IoT medical adherence technology
- Mobile apps
- Electronic pill dispensers
- Digital inhalers, audio, and vibration-based tracking devices
- E-injection pens
- Telemedicine platforms
IoT for chronic disease management
Furthermore, IoT in healthcare helps in the efficient management of chronic disease management. This involves the use of smart sensors and connected devices that collect real-time data from health parameters.
These parameters, among others, include, blood levels, blood glucose glucose levels for diabetics or blood pressure readings for hypertensive individuals.
The data collected gets transmitted to healthcare givers, experts, etc. for remote access. These professionals can assess important information and the patient’s conditions from their locations. This enables them to provide personalized care plans.
Examples of IoT for chronic disease monitoring
- Blood glucose monitors
- Blood pressure monitors
- Smart scales
- Wearable devices like fitness trackers
IoT for surgical planning
IoT for surgical planning is an offshoot of IoT in healthcare. The technology is a great assistant to surgeons as it offers real time data during important procedures.
It uses connected devices and robotic systems to offer very precise measurements visualization aids, and feedback mechanisms. All of these enhance surgical accuracy and improve patient outcomes.
Examples of some important IoT surgical planning devices
- Smart surgical instruments for providing real-time feedback.
- IoT-enabled imaging devices for advanced imaging services.
- Patient monitoring systems for monitoring patients’ vital signs.
- Surgical robots for remote surgery or assistance.
- Smart surgical garments for monitoring physiological parameters
- Remote consultation tools for real-time expert advice to the surgical team.
IoT for infection control
IoT healthcare applications also do wonders in infection control, especially in the areas of hygiene compliance. Hygiene compliance is powered by IoT wearable sensors that keep track of movements within a certain environment.
In the hospital environment, these sensors ensure that medical equipment goes through adequate sterilisation processes.
IoT in healthcare can also be useful in sending notifications to management when hand washing sanitisers need refiling.
Some examples of IoT infection control devices are;
- Smart Hand Hygiene Monitoring Systems for hygiene compliance among healthcare workers.
- Automated Hand Sanitizer Dispensers for tracking the usage of hand sanitizers
- IoT-based UV-C Disinfection Robots for disinfecting surfaces with ultraviolet light
- Wireless Environmental Monitoring Sensors for IoT continuous monitoring.
- IoT-enabled Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Tracking for monitoring and tracking their usage
- Smart Ventilation Systems for adjusting airflow and filtration
IoT for medical logistics
IoT also plays an important role in managing medical logistics. The technology optimizes supply chain management within healthcare facilities.
It also powers the works connected to inventory systems for the accurate and efficient tracking of medical supplies in real-time. This not only helps in ensuring efficient stock management, but it also helps in preventing shortages or wastages.
Examples of devices and systems of IoT for medical logistics
- Temperature Monitoring Sensors for monitoring the temperature of pharmaceuticals and vaccines during transportation and storage.
- Smart Inventory Management for stock monitoring
- Asset Tracking and Management for tracking the location and condition of medical equipment.
- Supply Chain Visibility for tracking the movement of medical products
- Route Optimization for delivery efficiency
IoT for clinical research
Lastly on our list of IoT healthcare applications is IoT for clinical research. The technology also facilitates performing clinical research because it can collect and process real-world patient data in large amounts. IoT in healthcare allows researchers to gain insights from diverse collected data on different diseases, their patterns, treatments, and threats.
All IoT healthcare tools are important in the success of clinical research works.
What Are Iot Healthcare Benefits?
Continuous Health Monitoring with IoT in Healthcare
Today, patients benefit from a range of smart healthcare devices like fitness bands, blood pressure monitors, and glucometers, providing real-time health data. These devices offer personalized health insights.
They remind users to monitor calorie intake, improve exercise routines, and track changing health trends.
For elderly patients, these devices are vital for daily health tracking. They can alert both the patient and their family to potential health issues in advance.
IoT in healthcare for Enhancing Hospital Efficiency
IoT transforms hospitals into smarter, more efficient spaces. It aids in asset management, and tracking equipment like wheelchairs, oxygen pumps, and defibrillators in real-time.
IoT in healthcare for Efficient Patient Tracking
Physicians and nurses now use wearables and home monitoring equipment embedded with IoT sensors to monitor patients’ health remotely.
IoT facilitates the systematic recording of patient medical history, current needs, and future requirements. It empowers healthcare professionals with data-driven insights.
This allows the technology to enhance proactive patient care and personalized treatment plans.
IoT in healthcare for Enhancing Insurance Transparency
IoT connectivity in healthcare insurance helps combat fraud and enhance transparency. IoT-driven health data ensures authenticity in underwriting and claims processing.
This data helps insurers identify genuine policyholders and reduce fraudulent claims, promoting fairness and trust between insurers and customers.
IoT in healthcare for Creating Healthier
IoT contributes to healthier cities by providing real-time air quality data collected from various locations.
This data empowers policymakers to make informed decisions to improve air quality and public health.
IoT’s role in smart city projects promotes healthier urban living, exemplifying IoT healthcare benefits beyond individual health.
IoT in healthcare for Accelerating Medical Research
IoT aids medical research by providing access to extensive medical condition data for statistical analysis. The data are also from diverse patients and it accelerates research timelines, saves costs, and enables more comprehensive studies and treatments.
These applications of IoT in healthcare demonstrate its multifaceted benefits.
What are Some Important IoT Healthcare Challenges?
Globally, experts, governments and institutions are harnessing the powers of IoT in healthcare to seriously transform the healthcare industry.
While this is an amazing transformation, it is crucial to be aware of some challenges with IoT healthcare.
Security of Data with IoT in Healthcare
Like IoT technology in other industries, IoT in healthcare has a significant security issue. This is largely because medical histories need to be very private. Also, all medical sector values data privacy.
IoT in healthcare involves the use of devices that handle vast amounts of sensitive data and information on a daily basis. However, they come with different security risks which may easily lead to data breaches.
Also, malicious people can gain access to the company’s software and lay their hands on sensitive data. The devices or apps on connected systems may also be vulnerable to cybercriminals.
What can be done?
A competent medical software developer can successfully defend your IoT healthcare by considering tight security at the programming stages.
Also, to prevent these security problems, users of IoT in healthcare must prioritise data security in other areas. For example, hospitals can ensure that their staff are knowledgeable about IoT security measures.
Operators of the devices must use secure authentication methods. Manufacturers too must ensure they integrate data encryption and harness the benefits of cloud storage for enhanced security.
2. Protocol integration with IoT in Healthcare
IoMT links a variety of IoT medical devices together. This is very crucial because the healthcare sector relies on numerous devices that use these various protocols. As a result, it develops an adaptable ecosystem.
However, this comes with some challenges; There is no one solution for communication standards and protocols. So, IoT integration in the healthcare sector may be very limited and slow.
What to do?
When IoT Medical developers are developing their software, they should ensure that there is compliance with HIPAA and HITECH requirements.
Processing patient personal information is subject to numerous laws and regulations and compliance with HIPAA and HITECH can help. You can get an expert IoT development company to help out in this area.
3. Data Abundance
Medical IoT devices process and gather a lot of data. Sometimes, they may even collect irrelevant data. For doctors, this can result in a lack of accuracy and data overload.
FAQs
What are the benefits of IoT in healthcare?
Benefits of IoT in healthcare include;
- Continuous Health Monitoring with IoT in Healthcare
- IoT in Healthcare for Enhancing Hospital Efficiency
- IoT in Healthcare for Efficient Patient Tracking
- IoT in Healthcare for Enhancing Insurance Transparency
- IoT in Healthcare for Creating Healthier Cities
- IoT in Healthcare for Accelerating Medical Research
What are the benefits and challenges of IoT?
Please read the article to learn about the benefits and challenges of IoT in healthcare
What are the challenges of IoT in healthcare?
There are many challenges when it comes to IoT healthcare applications, but they fall under these basic three;
- Security of Data with IoT in Healthcare
- Protocol Integration with IoT in Healthcare
- Excessive Data in Medical IoT leading to overload and inaccuracies
What is the role of IoT in healthcare application implementation?
- Facilitates data exchange and analysis for enhancing patient care, monitoring, and healthcare management.
- Utilizes connected devices like wearables and sensors to collect real-time patient data.
- Enables remote patient monitoring, improving healthcare access and reducing clinic visits.
- Enhances asset management, ensuring equipment safety and resource optimization.
- Promotes efficiency, accuracy, and quality of care through real-time data, advanced analysis, and proactive interventions.
