How IoT is revolutionizing the healthcare industry

The Internet of Things (IoT) is changing the working pattern institutional values of many industries and sectors. Service devices which are powered with artificial intelligence, machine learning and IoT gather information with each other, not only they can collect the information from the various sources. It can collect, store, record and analyze the data which can be further streamed with much faster speed. This becomes significant as the era of interesting possibilities within the various parameters of industries will occur. Cars that can be self-driven, self-maintained and can predict the schedule in a calculated report projected accountability user can hold.

IoT making way in every aspect of human routine

With its expansion in commercial setups, technological advancement enabled with artificial intelligence and IoT is touching much restricted and close fraternity that is healthcare and medical science. It promises to bring substantial growth with retaining of core principles. It focuses much on the increase in quality care and a reduction in the cost of procedures. Not only physical time frame, IoT is providing benefits for tele-consulting and delivering care to people who are located in geographical conditions which are difficult to reach. 

Monitoring system enabled with technology provide a continuous stream of patient condition via the internet that in turn collect accurate data irrespective of demographic boundaries, there have been many cases in past also which reflects how IoT devices have proven beneficial for people who require care in place which was physically inaccessible to reach. As the usage of technology for transmitting collecting and studying data has been since ages, the addition of IOT has matured the system processes and applications. This makes the emergency, as well as regular outpatient department, works flawlessly.

In this article, we will try to explore some of the dimensions where IoT is opening new horizons for the healthcare system

Healthcare and IoT

It was first described in 1999 by Kevin Ashton explaining the technology in business; IoT devices gaining popularity are due to limited of people in terms of time, attention, focus, and accuracy which can be said in a simpler form that they are not so good in capturing data with most of the accuracy. With the shortage of understanding and prediction, IOT can revolutionize healthcare dramatically by lowering the cost and improving the quality. This can be further interpreted as-

1. Development of sensors which can collect patient data
2. Utilizing micro-controllers in day to day life which can wirelessly communicate the information
3. Use of microprocessors that enables more graphical interfaces and presentations.
4. Further sending this information for decision making.
5. Better patient coordination and care.

Powering healthcare systems

IoT devices have a significant role to play in the broad spectrum of applications as well as system processes in healthcare system varying from managing chronic diseases on one side to taking care of preventable diseases. Let us understand the broad usage of IOT with changing the world through example

Clinical care

Whenever a patient is admitted in the hospital they need a lot of care and attention in terms of emotion, physical and psychological monitoring constantly day and night which can be made easier with the help of IoT. This may include censorship through the employee's sensor system and collecting the comprehensive physiological information and using various gateways to study them this can be transported to the caregiver through Bluetooth or wireless which saves time, money and energy. This can very well replace the cumbersome duty of healthcare provider visiting the wards, again and again, to check for vital signs and providing a continuous automated flow of information from the patient. 

This maintains the continuous flow and also improves the quality of care through constant watch which is not possible due to human limitations. This also eliminates unwanted energy and cost for collecting these data. An apt example of this is the use of MASIMO RADICAL -7 which is a health monitor which collects the patient data and transmits it to the display screen as a notification directly to the specialist. The result provided through the collected information provides a better and more complete picture of the patient current status and allows the specialist to take an appropriate decision.

The monitor incorporates the Freescale technology in the form of an IMX application processor that enables the graphical conversion and allows the high-resolution display of status which makes it easier and convenient to use.

Remote patient monitoring

Many people all around the globe suffer just because they are not able to get the easily accessible health monitoring system at the time of the need. But this can be dealt with small powerful easy wireless solutions which are connected with the IOT systems. These solutions can be further used to securely manage patient health data through a variety of sensors and make complex algorithm easy for the healthcare provider to make appropriate recommendations. This makes a better prediction of shortfalls in patients suffering from chronic disease and avoids further complications.

This can be understood through the example of a home health hub reference platform which has many capabilities like a collection of the physiological status of the patient and sharing with a secure cloud where it can be studied further.

Early prevention of a disease

We must not forget that healthcare is not always about diseased people but also about the prevention of disease itself in the susceptible patient by following preventive interventional techniques. People can be benefitted by IOT as they can easily keep track of their day to day activities and well being easy. For example a 65 year old home alone want to have monitoring device which can detect any change in his daily routine which can be harmful for his condition, like keeping track of sugar intake if he is a diabetic and in case of any changes in his vital signs (which can be life-threatening) can contact any of the family member, this not only a bliss in emergency medical conditions but can avoid any fatal outcome. 

Let's see how a healthy athlete can be benefited with technological advancement like IOT he can wear gadget on his wrist which can simply collect information from the internet about weather, his total working in a day etc. use of daily monitoring solutions are aimed at the senior aged population to strategically place sensors for monitoring daily activities and report any possibilities of the anomalies to caretaker or family member via cell phone.

All the examples of IOT based healthcare solutions as emerging with the change of attitude in the whole society. In the upcoming time, the real vision of the scientist at both the end engineering and healthcare will work together to make the vision come true. From prompting a relative of the patient who forgot to take medicine, getting the location of the patient in case of emergency, checking of vital signs to telling the navigation system of the car which hospital is the nearest and apt with all the details of traffic on the way IOT enabled applications and gadgets are powering the world of healthcare.

Enabling technology

Without some of the IOT powered applications, healthcare would not be strengthened like it is today. Few things would be impossible to achieve the level of usability, connectivity, and capabilities which is health caring system catering today and is indeed required where you are dealing with hundreds of lives.

Smart sensors which are combined with micro-controllers makes the technology and energy harnessing in terms of IoT for healthcare by accurately measuring, analyzing and then closely monitoring the indicators of health. This may include temperature, heart rate indicators.

The long discussion on IOT and continuous revolution on the way in the healthcare industry is crystal clear but the updates till now are only the tip of the iceberg and lot more needs to emerge and addressed in the most urgent basis to make healthcare services more affordable, accessible and meaningful. Moreover, the use of IoT, artificial technology and machine learning has better communication through continuous established system process.

 This very well compliments the requirement of the infrastructure in any hospital. These machine learning powered communication in the industries including manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and automobile are working towards establishing standards of technology and acceleration of the innovation at the right track for all the organization eagerly waiting to explore much more benefits which IoT devices hold within them.