Smart healthcare through the internet of things: benefits and applications

Smart healthcare through the internet of things: Benefits and applications

The healthcare industry is in a state of great distress. Healthcare industry is getting costlier than ever. The number of chronic diseases is on the rise and the global population is ageing. According to Market insight report, the internet of thing in healthcare market was USD 55.5 Billion in 2019 and will grow at a CAGR of 20.8% to USD 172.46 billion by 2025. The pandemic COVID-19 has further accelerated the need for digital transformation in the healthcare industry. Robustness and capabilities of the health care industry have come under the scanner and thus need transformation. 

 

In this digital era of technology where everything is transforming, it is unjust to keep healthcare behind. To build a smart healthcare application, the internet of thing, artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud computing comes together.

During this pandemic time, the internet of things enabled devices have made life quite easier in the health care sector by remote monitoring, keeping patients safe and healthy and empowering physicians to deliver unbeatable care. Interaction with doctors have become more easier and efficient, and this has increased patient engagement and satisfaction rate. IoT has played an important role in reducing healthcare cost significantly.

 

Healthcare re-defined

The mushrooming of healthcare-specific IoT products opens up tremendous opportunities. The enormous amount of data generated by these connected devices hold the potential for unmatched transformation.

IoT has a four-step architecture that is shown in stages. All four stages are connected in such a way that data is captured at one stage and carries the value to the next stage. Integrated values in the process deliver dynamic business prospects and bring intitutions.

Let’s check process

 

Step 1: The first step comprises of deployment of interconnected devices with sensors, actuators, monitors, detectors, camera systems etc. These devices collect the data.

Step 2: for further data processing, the data received from sensors is aggregated and converted to the digital form from an analogue form.

Step 3: Once the data is digitized and aggregated, it is moved to the data centre or cloud and pre-processed and standardized.

Step 4: at the required level, the final data is analyzed and managed. Advanced Analytics applied brings actionable business insights for effective decision-making.

The health care industry is re-defined by IoT as it ensures better & improved treatments, reduced costs, better processes and workflows, improved performance and patient experience.

 

BENEFITS OF IoT IN HEALTHCARE

1. Simultaneous reporting and monitoring

2. End-to-end connectivity and affordability

3. Data assortment and analysis

4. Tracking and alerts

5. Proactive treatment
6. Faster disease diagnosis
7. Error reduction

8. Remote medical assistance

9. Research

Applications of IoT in healthcare

Due to IoT’s different scope of use in various sectors the rise is exciting everybody. There are several applications in healthcare. IoT in healthcare helps in:

• Shorten emergency room wait time
• Tracking patients, staff, and inventory
• Intensify drug management
• Ensuring the availability of critical hardware

IoT has made lives of patients comfortable by introducing wearable technology. These devices are as follows 

• Hearables

It is a new-age hearing aid which have brought a miraculous transformation in the life of people who are suffering from hearing loss and now can easily interact with the world. Advance wearables are compatible with Bluetooth and can sync with your smartphone. It adds real-world sounds through features like filter, equalizes and added layers. Doppler Labs is the best example of it. 

• Ingestible sensors

It is a modern science marvel as this pill-sized sensors monitor the medication in your body. It warns and detects irregularities in the body. Proteus digital health is one of the examples of ingestible sensors.

• Moodables

This device improves your mood and enhances mood. Thync and Halo Neurosciences are already working on developing it. It is a head-mounted wearable that sends low-intensity current to the brain and elevates mood.

• Computer vision technology

Along with AI, computer vision technology evolved into drone technology which gives insights and aims at mimic visual perception and helps in decision making.

This technology is very useful for visually impaired people and helps navigate efficiently. For example, drone-like Skydio uses computer vision technology to navigate.

• Health care charting

Devices like Audemix reduces the manual work of doctors, which they do during patient charting. It captures patients' data and is powered by voice command. It makes data readily accessible and saves 15 hours per week work of doctors.

Challenges faced in smart healthcare

 

• Data security and privacy
• Multiple devices and protocols in integration cause hindrance
• Data overload and accuracy 
• Cost bar as IoT has not made the smart healthcare affordable to the common man yet

 

Conclusion 

IoT has changed the face of the healthcare industry by the facilities delivered. With digital transformation and technologies, the product is improving and we can see a large effect by doing minor changes.