What do you mean by IoT?
IoT or The Internet of Things, is a group of interlinked physical items that work on embedded software with the help of sensors and other supporting technology. These sensors and other associated systems help in the gathering and exchange of important data.
What changes is IoT bringing to Healthcare?
A variety of studies across the web show that there is a wide range of benefits of IoT in healthcare segment. Speaking of which, here are 10 ways in which IoT is transforming the healthcare industry:
1) Infection Control and Accident Prevention
There are many cases of patients slipping and falling, which leads to further complications in their treatment. IoT systems can help in tracking patient movements via motion detection sensors. Moreover, IoT-based gadgets can also assist in meeting hygiene standards to avoid any cases of infection.
2) Revolutionized Research and Clinical Trials
Clinical Trials once used to be a tedious task that involved hours of manual research and analysis. Thanks to the advancements in IoT technologies, it can now be achieved with much more accuracy while saving a lot of time.
3) Patient Engagement and Awareness
One of the best advantages of IoT in healthcare is the fact that patients can contribute to their treatment. With the help of wearable gadgets and mobile apps, patients can keep an eye on heart rate, activity levels, and sleep patterns.
4) Improved Elderly Care and Autonomy
Senior citizens tend to have preferences for their medical treatment that involve independence to quite an extent. IoT enables that and more with its remote monitoring features, thus ensuring a better medical support environment.
5) Reduced Readmissions and Improved Follow-Ups
IoT development services have proved to be crucial in reducing hospital readmission and enhancing follow-up care management with its outstanding capabilities of data-pulling and analysis.
6) Precise Disease Detection and Remote Patient Monitoring
IoT-powered devices help healthcare professionals constantly monitor the vital signs and health metrics of patients, even remotely. This contributes to a more efficient healthcare system in general.
7) Chronic Disease Management and Personalized Treatment
The data generated by IoT devices offers unique behavioral and trend-based insights. Such a data-driven process helps in the creation of customized treatment plans.
8) Better Resource Allocation and Increased Efficiency
When it comes to healthcare, the benefits of IoT go beyond patient care, as it also helps optimize patient flow and equipment usage. Thus, leading to better staff management and enhanced resource allocation.
9) Access to Enhanced Care and Telemedicine
For the times when patients are unable to visit a healthcare institution, IoT development services help by accelerating Telemedicine. Patients can get in touch with medical professionals via IoT-enabled devices for diagnostics, consultations, and more.
10) Predictive Analytics and Data-Oriented Insights
The data generated by IoT-powered devices offers crucial information that aids in making effective decisions about preventive strategies and resource allocation. Through clever analysis, medical professionals can forecast disease outbreaks and health patterns.
What are the barriers faced by IoT implementation in Healthcare?
Just the way any groundbreaking technology faces its fair share of troubles, IoT is also prone to several challenges at the moment. Some of the most prominent barriers that stand in the way of IoT in healthcare are as follows:
1) Data Privacy & Security
Recent studies indicate that most of the IoT-powered devices are prone to breaches related to data privacy and security. Since these devices capture information on a real-time basis, they often lack adequate measures required to protect the database. Moreover, it has also been claimed that there are multiple interpretational issues with data ownership.
2) Integration with Multiple Devices
Integrating several devices at the same time using IoT often causes issues, which makes its implementation in the healthcare sector problematic. The primary reason for this challenge is that the manufacturers of IoT-powered devices find it difficult to reach a consensus related to communication standards and protocols.
3) Information Overload & Inaccuracies
According to research, many startups that collaborate with an IoT development company, even with proper communication protocols, face data aggregation issues due to the overload of information. The amount of data that the IoT-powered devices gather is so humongous, that it sometimes ends up affecting the process of decision-making, leading to safety issues.
4) High Implementation Costs
Despite a broad spectrum of advantages, IoT has not been able to make medical facilities cost-effective for customers. Unless strict and effective measures are taken to control its skyrocketing costs, it will remain untapped by a huge number of customers. Currently, financial barriers seem to hinder further innovation in IoT and limit the accessibility of essential healthcare solutions for the masses.
What does the Future hold for IoT in Healthcare?
With efforts being constantly made in the research and development of IoT in healthcare, the future looks promising. In the coming years, we will witness remarkable improvements in the healthcare industry. Some of the possible aspects of developments related to IoT will include the following:
- Integration with Artificial Intelligence
The emergence of AI has opened up a million possibilities for IoT development. Combining artificial intelligence with AI will improve predictive analytics, providing more precise medical forecasts, proactive decision-making, and medical interventions for chronic ailments. - Cutting-Edge Medical Institutions
Smart Hospitals will soon be a term in the years that follow, given that IoT development services achieve the objectives they’re meant to. The evolution of hospitals with integrated IoT technologies will optimize operations, improve resource allocation, and improve patient experiences, resulting in effective patient care. - Improved Compliance and Regulatory Frameworks
As IoT in healthcare will achieve its true potential, several regulatory bodies will probably establish strict guidelines. Thus, ensuring data security, privacy, and gadget reliability, promoting trust among patients. It will also help in achieving a more regulated environment that protects patient information while carrying out research and analysis.
What are some of the revolutionary IoT Gadgets?
IoT has built a variety of wearables that help in improving the lives of people across the globe. With the increase in the number of smart cities, the demand for a consumer-tech IoT development company is now at an all-time high. Let’s take a look at some of the most innovative IoT-powered gadgets available in the market:
- Wearables
These gadgets can stream audio, modify soundscapes, or even serve as biometric sensors. They have managed to transform the lives of patients with hearing loss or people who would frequently stumble during interactions. - Ingestible
These are pill-sized sensors that let you monitor the medication within the body and identify irregularities if any. Patients suffering from diabetes can get user alerts for the tiniest spikes in sugar levels, hence promoting real-time awareness. - Moodables
Modern times require modern solutions – Moodables offers a solution that’s modern in all aspects known to humans so far. These gadgets help balance moods throughout the day and avoid any unintentional mood swings through vibrations sent across the head. - Medical Charting
Patient information collection is among the most time-consuming tasks that medical professionals must carry out regularly. These gadgets help them chart patient information and keep them updated with real-time patient stats.
Conclusion
IoT holds substantial promise for transforming patient engagement, precision analytics, and advanced monitoring algorithms. Many medical establishments are now turning to an IoT development company to sync their operations and enhance efficiency via connected technologies. However, addressing major barriers such as integration issues, data security, and high costs will prove to be crucial for maximizing its potential to improve health outcomes on a global scale.
