IoT is an acronym for the Internet of Things. It refers to a network of physical devices, vehicles, home appliances and other items embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators, and connectivity which enables these objects to connect and exchange data. The interconnection of physical devices over the internet creates opportunities for more direct integration of the physical world into computer-based systems, resulting in inefficiencies in the areas of manufacturing, transport and logistics, homes, utilities (energy, water etc), healthcare, and building management.
The healthcare industry is one of the biggest consumers of IoT technology. IoT has made it possible to enable remote patient monitoring and provide better health care services.
IoT in Healthcare: Benefits
It enables healthcare providers to monitor patients remotely. Monitoring is easy by using wearable gadgets that include heart rate monitors, blood pressure trackers or glucose monitoring devices. IoT has revolutionized the way physicians can monitor their patients from a distance. Patients can be monitored at home using wearable medical gadgets. It transmits vital signs data to caregivers’ smartphones or computers using wireless technologies like Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) or Zigbee.
By using BLE or Zigbee enabled medical devices along with smartphone apps to monitor patients remotely, healthcare organizations can help patients avoid frequent doctor visits for routine checkups. BLE enabled medical
IoT (Internet of Things) has made its way into every field, and healthcare is one of them. It has revolutionized the health sector by creating a network of connected medical devices, home appliances, and different healthcare facilities like hospitals, clinics, etc. It helps in improving the quality of healthcare and makes it affordable for people from all walks of life.
Challenges Of IoT in Healthcare Industry
Any device can be connected to the internet and it is known as IoT Device or Internet-enabled device. These devices are capable of transferring data to each other or to a cloud storage system through an internet connection. The need for these devices has increased tremendously because they can provide real-time data to doctors about their patients’ health status.
This data is collected at regular intervals through sensors and helps in analyzing the patient’s history, enabling doctors to suggest necessary treatment plans. The data that is transferred through these devices include physiological parameters like blood pressure, heart rate, activity levels, weight measurements etc., biometric data like pulse oximetry and electrocardiography as well as information on drugs prescribed to the patient etc. Some of these devices record such vital signs continuously while others send them intermittently in batches at regular intervals. Therefore, the number of devices required for providing dedicated care to patients.
In the healthcare industry, IoT is a key enabler that can help improve patient care and outcomes, as well as reduce costs. Here are some key ways in which IoT can positively impact the healthcare industry:
Data Security:
Data Security is a must in the healthcare industry. IoT can help ensure optimal security by ensuring that only authorized users have access to sensitive data or applications through authentication controls, encryption and other security mechanisms.
Reduced Operation Costs:
IoT can help reduce operational costs by automating many tasks such as patient monitoring or alerts about drug stockouts. This will enable hospital staff to focus on more critical tasks rather than performing repetitive manual work tasks every day. This can also reduce downtime since there will be fewer errors.
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Key takeaways
The healthcare industry is undergoing a major transformation due to the increasing demand for better and more efficient patient care.
IoT in healthcare provides the ability to monitor all aspects of a patient’s treatment. Whether it’s from diagnosis and prognosis to monitoring their progress over time. We can use IoT devices in hospitals, clinics and other medical facilities also patients can use them at home.
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Also, check out how Salesforce Health Cloud can help the healthcare industry enhance the patient experience – https://rebrand.ly/guide-on-salesforce-health-cloud