Almost every business is introducing at least some degree of automation in day to day business operations for it has become an essential feature of 21st century industrial revolution. Technologies like internet, web3, IoT, AI and ML, Cloud, Big Data etc. are being used for handling complex problems and to enhance customer experiences. Healthcare is a sector that can benefit from technology greatly. From patient outcomes to innovations in medicines and crucial surgical instruments, to ensuring that medicines and medical care reaches to everyone, which is only possible through a robust healthcare supply chain and logistics, technology can be an overarching solution. With increasing technological evolutions, the future of healthcare seems quite promising.
What is Internet of Things (IoT)?
Internet of Things, IoT, grew from few devices in early 2000s to 9.8B IoT devices at present. Internet of Things has entered the age of ‘internet of everything’.
Internet of things (IoT) is termed as a network of interconnected physical objects that communicate/transmit data with each other through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and various sensors and software over the internet.
An RFID based car key, a smart bulb that is controlled through your smartphone, or a proximity sensor based water tap are some of the Internet of Things that we use on daily basis.
IoT in healthcare
As mentioned above, IoT devices are capable of transmitting data through various wireless technologies.
IoT in the field of healthcare is termed as internet of medical things (IoMT), and the market share of IoMT is projected to reach 176B USD by 2026.
Various proximity sensor based IoT devices have been developed in the field of healthcare that are very crucial in remote patient monitoring. Remote patient monitoring is an important part of IoMT development which allows patients to monitor heart-rate, blood glucose, blood pressure and temperature etc. without actually visiting a healthcare facility.
Various IoMT devices are capable of monitoring patient’s mood and are helpful in medical evaluation of depression amongst patients as well.
Use of IoT in healthcare is redefining the global healthcare services.
Leveraging IoT to enhance patient outcomes
It is a duty of a medical professional to provide best possible care to their patients. In the face of covid19 pandemic, healthcare professionals, all around the globe, worked day and night to save people from deadly covid19 virus or the coronavirus. Technology like IoT can be leveraged to enhance the patient outcomes in such scenarios or otherwise.
IoT can be leverage to monitor patients’ vitals and their adherence to the medical treatment provided by doctors. Various wearables and home monitoring IoMT devices are available in this regard.
IoT, with the use of RFID, BLE or other technologies can help with real time monitoring, availability and tracking of medical instruments like oxygen pumps, nebulizers, wheelchairs, or even doctors present at the healthcare facility. This enhances the patient care enormously.
IoT can also be used to provide patients with hospital maps, health-guides and to broadcast (BLE beacon) various significant information like cost, and preparations for impending medical treatments.
Future of healthcare
Healthcare is a prominent category in all aspects. It’s a basic need and that is why big pharma companies, govt. etc spend billions of dollars every year on medicines and medical instrument development.
Use of technology in regenerative medical care and patient outcomes is growing trend that has huge potential in addressing complex medical challenges in the future as well. IoMT market is continuously on the rise and has created a niche in IoT deployment in healthcare.
In future, IoMT can enhance patient care at home and at hospitals by enhancing healthcare availability in remote areas as well. Various IoT enabled medical instruments and streamlined logistics in healthcare can benefit patients as well as medical health professionals.
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