COVID-19’s presence is still felt across the planet, even though the year 2021 has passed. Healthcare is undoubtedly the industry that has altered the most as a result of the worldwide pandemic’s effects. With major developments in technology and methodologies required to meet the rising demand for healthcare access and expanding digitalization of protected health information, the healthcare business has developed in unique ways to continue to provide the same great level of service.
The Internet of Things has ushered in a slew of healthcare IT solutions that can assist service providers in enhancing healthcare services following the COVID-19 halt. Though telemedicine and remote sensing medical devices have been in use for quite some time, the underlying technology for the healthcare industry has advanced manifold in recent years as a result of the rise of IoT.
These technological breakthroughs have been ground-breaking, but the IoT healthcare applications have only just begun to be explored. According to Fortune Business Insights, the worldwide IoT in the healthcare market will increase from $57.62 billion in 2019 to $352.88 billion by 2027, rising at a compound annual growth rate of 20%. By enabling remote monitoring, IoT in healthcare is assisting businesses and people in reducing hospital stays, re-admissions, and treatment expenses.
The usage of IoT in healthcare has become even more vital nowadays, as individuals are being obliged to maintain social distance to control the spread of COVID-19. Online appointments, remote monitoring, and online inventory management are now required.
In this blog article, we’ll look at the advantages and uses of the internet of things in healthcare.
Role of IoT in Healthcare
The Internet of Things in healthcare, also known as the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), has allowed remote patient care, improved hospital and pharmaceutical operations, and boosted data accuracy. In-hospital hygiene monitoring systems assist in the prevention of patient infections. IoT devices in hospitals help to regulate, expedite emergency care, refrigerator temperatures and other similar tasks.
Future benefits of IoT in Healthcare
Improved Supervision and Reporting
In medical emergencies such as asthma attacks and heart failures, real-time surveillance via IoT devices can save lives. The linked gadget may capture vital information about a patient’s health and send it to a doctor in real time. According to research done by the Centre for Connected Health Policy, remote monitoring reduced the readmission rate of patients by 50%.
End-to-End Connectivity
IoT can optimise the process of patient care with the help of healthcare mobility solutions. It facilitates interoperability, machine-to-machine connection, data mobility, and information exchange, all while increasing the productivity of healthcare delivery. Different communication protocols in the gadgets enable healthcare professionals to detect early indicators of disease in patients.
Reduced expense
With the help of linked devices and wearables, patients will be able to contact with doctors from the comfort of their own homes. Regular visits for various testing and checks will be reduce. This will save patients money and time daily.
Remote medical assistance
Patients may now assess their own health parameters thanks to the internet of things healthcare (IoMT). A mobile application may be use to send the information to a doctor who is far away. Medics can examine the patient’s vitals and make a diagnosis remotely using mobility solutions. As a result, the therapy becomes more efficient and effective.
Preventive maintenance
All medical equipment must meet certain requirements and be inspect on a regular basis. As a result, preventive maintenance helps to eliminate service interruptions caused by missed service inspections. Devices such as bladder scanners, blood pressure monitors, wheelchairs, and defibrillators that are due for inspection or repair are notified, located, and scheduled using CMMS, smart QR code scanners, and GPS tracking technologies.
Application of IoT in healthcare
There are several prospects for IoMT advancement. It has already been expand for use in emergency care, insurance offices, and pharmacies. Let’s look at the application of IoT in healthcare in these areas:
Connected Inhalers
The linked inhaler is a smart IoT device that can help avoid respiratory problems. Asthma is a chronic disease that makes it difficult to breathe. According to the Royal College of Physicians, two out of every three asthma deaths can be avoided. IoT-connected inhalers track the frequency of attacks, notify patients if they leave their inhalers at home, warn if the device is misused, and collect environmental data to help discover the causes of future attacks. In other words, IoMT has the potential to save lives.
Wearable sensors
Virtual hospitals, illness prevention, and disease diagnosis are all made possible by wearable sensors. The temperature, heart rate, and respiration rate are all monitored by these little sensors that are worn on the body. They offer doctors information on the course or early beginning of an illness.
Asset Monitoring
IoT can aid in the provision of functionalities and controllers to many components of healthcare equipment. Any flaw in the equipment might be deadly during treatment since it is so important. By connecting these devices, the staff will be able to quickly monitor their work. Defects in the devices can also be identifie in real-time, lowering the possibility of incorrect treatment.
Brain Swelling Sensors
They are small sensors that help assess the strain on your head and also dissolve in the body without the need for medical intervention.
Glucose Monitoring
Another IoT gadget that has been successfully implemente is a glucose monitor. Given that diabetes is one of the most prevalent illnesses in humans, this makes monitoring accessible, non-invasive, comfortable, and safe for a large number of patients. The IoT-enabled glucometer automates the recording of glucose levels and can warn patients when levels are abnormal.
Robotic Surgery
Robot-assisted surgery helps medical practitioners to do complex procedures with greater precision, flexibility, and control than is possible with traditional methods.
IoT- Future in Healthcare
According to one projection, the Internet of Things will be connect to around 200 billion devices by 2021, up from 15 billion connections in 2016. This phenomenal rise is due to the widespread usage of smart devices such as smartphones, laptop computers, smartwatches, wrist bands, and other similar devices.
We recognize that a machine cannot think in the same manner as a person. But in this case, we’re talking about understanding, thinking, and learning. Through comprehension, a machine may build a model of data relationships and concepts. We may assume a solution from the existing model through reasoning, rather than having to programme separately for each problem. It can learn to gather information from stored data.
Conclusion
With technological advancements occurring on a daily basis, the potential for enhancing treatment, operational efficiency, and patient well-being through IoT is limitless. It’s just a matter of time before advanced IoT technologies take over the healthcare business and treat patients from all over the world in less time and at a lower cost. Many major IT firms are already working to make IoT and healthcare a winning noble combo for the welfare of humanity.
Future IoT advancements in healthcare will provide many additional benefits to the healthcare business. Investing in healthcare mobile app development might therefore help you maximise your ROI. IoT is the future, so begin developing and implementing your IoT strategy today.
