IoT in Healthcare. Get ready to embrace it with open arms for a great beginning

This scenario may be familiar to you. In a cramped, dreary waiting room, sick people waited for hours to see a medical doctor. Medical experts are in short supply and the queue seems to go on forever. As the patients scream in pain, you see sad faces everywhere.

Well, if this was the state of hospitals till now, things are changing at a breakneck pace, thanks to technological advancements. Advanced healthcare facilities, healthcare mobile applications, and the brand-new IoT idea are transforming the healthcare industry.

IoT provides a wide range of services for this industry, from sensor-equipped wearable gadgets to futuristic robotics, from pharmaceutical delivery drones to Machine Learning-based data analytics and predictive modeling mechanisms.

What is IoT?

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to a network of interconnected devices; such as cars, kitchen appliances, lighting control systems, air conditioning, can join the network and communicate with one another. Further, we can use the data gained to carry out useful tasks.

IoMT: How does IoT work in healthcare?

The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is a collection of medical devices and mobile applications. By connecting patients to their doctors and allowing the transfer of medical data through a secure network, the technology can cut unnecessary hospital visits, and ease the pressure on hospitals.

Scope of IoT in Healthcare

Telemedicine and Healing at Home

With IoT health monitoring devices, the choice of healing at home will become possible. With the integration of real-time monitoring and other modules, hospitals can treat patients at home. Fitness trackers and more specialized medical trackers can check vital signs and wirelessly send data to healthcare providers for patients who cannot leave their homes. Patients can access clinical services and a variety of other services; such as primary care, remote consultation, reminders, and remote admissions from home.

Wearable Healthcare devices to be used in Diagnosis and Preventive medicine. IoT devices can track and record data on a patient's daily activities in real time. Most common devices, such as watches, wristbands, Fitbit bands, and other trackers, contain a few sensors that can collect key metrics including heart rate, pulse rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar. Doctors can use this information to improve diagnostic accuracy and develop preventive medicine.

For example, smartwatches can provide information on baseline heart rates. We can detect odd patterns in heart rate data using algorithms, and treat patients accordingly.

Asset Monitoring

IoT devices can check essential equipment in the hospital. As the equipment is critical during treatment, any defect in them can be fatal. Connecting these devices will enable staff to track their serviceability and operation.

Better Patient Monitoring and Reporting

IoT devices can gather, report, and assess large amounts of data in a short amount of time, reducing the requirement for data storage. This will allow healthcare providers to concentrate on data that is important to the patient's treatment. The doctors' decision-making will improve with readily available health data such as blood pressure, oxygen, blood sugar levels, weight, and ECGs. This can prevent medical emergencies such as diabetic crises, heart failure, asthma attacks, etc.

Using patient data for medical research

We can use the vast amount of patient data to further process and research. Scientists can use this data to generate statistical reports, assess patient progress, and track symptoms. Thus, physicians may quickly get a detailed picture of the disease and use smart data insights to find medicines.

Lower Costs

Patients will be able to communicate with doctors from the comfort of their own homes. Patients' IoT-enabled devices at home can communicate data to doctors, potentially saving them money by reducing unnecessary doctor visits and avoiding hospital stays and reviews. Periodic examinations and check-ups will be reduced from lengthy, time-consuming procedures to short appointments. Patients will save money and time.

Drugs and Equipment Management

Hospitals consume a significant amount of medications. It is an arduous task to trace and record each of them. Integrating IoT applications can be an answer to these problems. Also, the data from the connected devices provide smooth operations with a reduction in errors, waste, and costs.

Independent Health Monitoring

Independent health monitoring is possible with IoT. In case of an injury or inability to call your doctor, the IoT can track your health automatically and notify your doctor. For example, a smartwatch can track your heart rate and an app on your smartphone can track your sleep patterns. With the Internet of Things (IoT) progressing at such a rapid pace, these incredible innovations will soon become the norm.

Hassle-free Insurance Claim

Patients, families, physicians, hospitals, and insurance companies all benefit from IoT applications in healthcare. Insurance companies can use data generated by health monitoring devices for screening and claim processing. IoT devices allow insurers and customers to communicate more openly.

Conclusion

The Internet of Things is transforming the healthcare industry. The global IoT remote health monitoring industry is predicted to reach more than $300 billion in 2022, according to Grand View Research. Whether it's for doctors, patients, researchers or insurers, IoT helps everyone. It simplifies the administrative side of healthcare, as well as improving patient care, and saving lives. Doctors can now continuously track their patients' health and progress, while patients can easily communicate with their doctors. Specialists and researchers from all around the world can consult with one another on complex health problems.

To keep themselves fit and up-to-date, consumers are actively purchasing health wearables for fitness, such as activity trackers, bands, wristbands, sports watches, and smart clothing. The industry is booming.

So, are you thinking about developing IoT solutions for the healthcare sector? This could be the ideal time because industry deployments are still in their early stages, and having a first mover advantage can benefit both the healthcare sector and your company. We are here to assist you if you have decided to invest in IoT-based mobile applications.

Cheers!

Get in touch with our team of skilled IoT developers at Regami Solutions if you have a concept to materialize or want to take your current IoT product to the next level. We can walk you through the full process for successful project execution. From design to create your product.