In a technology-driven era, the healthcare industry is run by a mix of multiple technologies. The pandemic was the catalyst for the advancements in technology in the healthcare sector last year. The pandemic has made us depend on technology more than ever. Be it, healthcare professionals or common people, we are now relying on and adapting to emerging technologies. IoT is one such technology currently being used robustly in the healthcare domain.
IoT refers to a system of internet-connected, interrelated devices or objects that can transmit or transfers information over a wireless network without the need for human intervention.
One recent Gartner survey called the adoption of IoT as a now conventional action. The survey points out that 11% of the people who took the survey were working in the healthcare sector and 86% of those respondents revealed that they have an established IoT architecture set up to aid their business.
With the health industry rapidly changing thanks to the aid of connected devices, IoT is becoming the pulse of healthcare.
Real-Time Tracking and Monitoring
Recently most healthcare organization have encouraged their patients to use smart medical IoT devices. These smart medical IoT devices easily connect to the patient’s smartphone. They can collect and transfer essential information such as heart rates, oxygen level, blood pressure, weight, ECGs, and blood sugar levels.
The data collected by these smart medical devices can be transferred and stored in the Cloud, which can be easily accessed by caregivers and healthcare providers such as hospital staff, physicians, insurance companies, or other healthcare practitioners, in real-time despite the location of the patient.
A study conducted by the Center of Connected Health Policy indicated a reduction of 50% in a 30-day readmission rate caused due to remote patient monitoring on heart failure patients. As the future unfolds, considering the importance of monitoring patients remotely, IoT devices would be competent enough to capture complex parameters for caregivers to keep track of.
Accurate and Swift Treatment
Earlier caregivers had to spend countless hours processing patient data. With the advent of IoT in healthcare, it is now possible to process patient data within minutes and accurately. When linked with AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML (Machine Learning), IoT can aid in finding potential possible cures and treatments for diseases.
Using medical apps, caregivers, doctors, healthcare professionals can remotely monitor whether the patient has taken his medicine. If not, then the patient can be reminded via messages, alerts, or calls through an automated system.
Digital Assistance
The future looks bright for the use of IoT as its benefits outweigh other technologies. IoT will be the technology to use in the future for three of its major uses.
Remote Monitoring
As mentioned earlier that remote monitoring capability is one of the most important features that IoT can offer. As demonstrated by Livongo Health, which released a range of remote IoT monitoring devices for chronic diseases, they have expanded their quarterly guidance in the April of 2020.
Telehealth Consultations
Telehealth consultation was the only way for a patient to consult a doctor via video conferencing during the lockdown. People have grown fond of it and find it more comfortable, hence the trend might grow in the future.
Digital Diagnostics
Numerous digital diagnostics solutions are under development. However, some were released for public use. Considering how convenient it is, IoT in healthcare will see a huge surge in the future. Kinsa, the manufacturer of digital thermometers, experienced a colossal rise in usage during the pandemic. Kinsa helped the caregiver track patient’s illnesses even before they could go to the hospital.
IoT in healthcare will prove vital and bring the much-needed revolution to make facilities better for all the stakeholders. Be it patients, doctors, or even the medical insurance staff. The pandemic has only made us realize the importance of IoT in healthcare. Since the pandemic forced us to interact less and rely on technology, healthcare itself has proven the importance of IoT in healthcare.
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