Internet of Things (IoT) in healthcare
The Internet of Things is not new but has been attaining more thoughtfulness and traction lately. The concept of the Internet of Things entails the use of electronic devices that capture or monitor data and are connected to a private or public cloud, enabling them to automatically trigger certain events. One such use case is that of garage-door openers that initiate when the owner’s car is nearby or a when the owner sends a command from a mobile device.
Internet-of-Things is a system that facilities device to device communication that is built around cloud computing. Like most devices have some mechanics to gather, evaluate, and measure health-rated data. Internet-of-Things can include some of the following:
Consumer Fitness Tracking – Fitness Bands like FitBit, MisFit, etc.
- Wearable External Devices – Insulin Pumps.
- Implanted Devices – Pacemakers.
- Stationary Devices – Fetal Monitors.
Internet-of-Things for healthcare includes those devices that can sense and collect actionable data. When shared with physicians or healthcare professionals via cloud computing, this data saves significant time and augments patient care.
Internet-of-Things has already started to contribute to the healthcare industry, and there’s much more that can be done with it- if leveraged efficiently. Here are some of the benefits that IOT can present to the Healthcare industry in the times to come:
Equipment Scheduling
Many healthcare conveniences tend to share expensive equipment. However, there is a high element of mismanagement as there are no fool-proof means being used for the equipment’s efficient scheduling. With cloud-based scheduling applications with the use of Internet-of-Things devices, the utilization of this equipment can be tracked and coordinated to ensure lower costs.
Collaboration
In the future, a higher plinth of collaboration will be affected between large conglomerates and smaller technology companies. This collaboration will help healthcare facilities to stay ahead of the curve in technology, and keep their systems up-to-date. This will also pave the way for more innovation in the field.
Patient Care Improvement
Along with smooth operations and advanced technologies, better patient care is another important agenda for all healthcare facilities. Internet-of-Things will make sure that these healthcare facilities are exposed to pertinent information that helps them provide optimal patient care.
Patient Records
As we have all seen, most physicians and surgeons spend a large chunk of the treatment time on gathering redundant information. Sometimes, they are swamped with information about the patient- much of which is not relevant. IoT wearable, however, holds the potential to capture relevant and timely information about the patient that can be shared without any hassle. Hence, these notes can be referred to initiate immediate treatment.
Information Collaboration
All information from the patient’s wearable devices, physician’s notes, etc. can be collated and made available to staff. This will help take prompt decisions.
Pharmacy Prescription: With the help of IoT devices, prescriptions can be sent to pharmacies directly from the doctors’ mobile devices. This eliminates the chances of misplaced prescriptions from patients’ relatives and other logistical problems.
Operations Enhancement
Guaranteeing smooth operation of a healthcare facility can play a pivotal role in minimizing costs and improving patient care. Handling hospital resources like lavish equipment, staff, inventory, facilities, and patients are one of the many layers of operational complexity that exist in a healthcare set-up. Internet-of-Things can make a influence in the following ways:
Medical Supplies Demand Anticipation
Healthcare operations’ staff can use the data to right-stock their medical inventories. Currently, large sums of money are spent on stocking a substantial amount of medical supplies. This is to ensure that they are available in case of emergencies. However, these blocks a healthcare facility’s capital and Internet-of-Things can help resolve the issue. With the help of IoT devices, emergency situations and patient care requirements can be anticipated to a great degree. This can indicate the level of demand for medical supplies, and hence the operations’ team can stock supplies in accordance.
Supplies Stock Management
Apart from anticipating demand for medical supplies, their stock can also be managed in real time with the use of such IoT devices as RFID tags and mobile scanners. These technologies are already in use, and when combined with strong CRM tools they can generate valuable insights.