Enabling Efficient Healthcare with IoT | MedTel Healthcare

 

young woman doctor in a white coat with a stethoscope around her neck looking at camera confused, smiling spreading arms to the sides standing over orange background

We are thick in the age of the internet. Devices as tiny as the size of a coin can be internet-enabled. In fact, so common are internet-enabled devices that by the year 2030, there will be an estimated 50 billion connected devices around the world. This network of internet-compatible devices is known as the Internet of Things (IoT) and comprises everything from consumer electronics to automobiles and even traffic lights. A growing number of devices are aimed at a certain sector with the capacity to truly revolutionize the world: healthcare. Thanks to this connected ecosystem, also known as the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), doctors are able to track patient metrics and administer care, all in real-time.

• According to Fortune Business Insights, the IoMT market is estimated to hit USD 142.45 billion by 2026. This growth is driven by an increase of chronic diseases and better healthcare infrastructure worldwide.

The IoMT and Connected Care Ecosystem

Internet-enabled healthcare devices allow doctors to conduct remote patient monitoring (RPM). These devices comprise wearable technology and other tracking equipment that read a patient’s vital signs in real-time and relay them to healthcare providers who then make diagnoses and prescribe treatment. This IoT and connected care ecosystem comprise several players: the RPM vendor that offers healthcare services and manages the healthcare devices and the RPM platform; the network provider that provides the connectivity required for the ecosystem to function; the hardware provider that delivers equipment to the patient’s home; and the care provider – doctors and primary care physicians – who monitor and treats patients. At the center of this intricate web of healthcare services is IoT, without which data generation and analysis would not be possible.

IoMT-based platforms can empower patients to become self-aware of their health. Oftentimes, patients can even minimize the intervention of healthcare professionals. These platforms also empower physicians by simplifying the healthcare process and supporting clinical decisions.

Factors Driving IoMT in Healthcare

There are several factors that have been steadily influencing IoMT in healthcare. Chief among them are:

• Increasing awareness of the benefits of using smart healthcare products.
• Improved efficiency of smart healthcare devices.
• The rise in R&D of advanced devices.
• Increasing disposable income of people.

 

Types of RPM Healthcare Devices

There are numerous types of RPM healthcare devices and sensors that transmit data to healthcare providers, most often through a dedicated mobile app. These include:

• electroencephalographs (EEGs)
• electronic thermometers
• electrocardiographs (ECGs)
• electronic stethoscopes
• spirometers
• cardiac monitors
• apnea monitors
• audiometers
• oximeters
• blood pressure monitors
• breathing frequency monitors.

Irrespective of what type of device/sensor is used, it must comply with medical device and medical software safety standards, must comply with data privacy and data protection laws, and be able to be integrated with a healthcare provider’s system. This ensures that IoT devices can enable proper communication between patients and healthcare providers without comprising data security.

 Resource URL:- https://medtel.io/blog/enabling-efficient-healthcare-with-iot/