There are many ways and means in which the internet can help people and businesses. It has certainly started impacting almost every aspect of our daily lives. In this article, we will learn how the emerging IoT technology can go a long way in helping hospitals in particular and the medical industry in particular.
We are sure the information being shared over the next few lines could be informative and provide new insights and knowledge about the positive contribution that IoT technology can make hospitals a much better place.
What Is the Internet of Things of IoT
Put in simple words, when we talk about IoT, we are referring to a combination of systems that are interrelated. These include various computing devices, digital machines, and also mechanical equipment. They have unique identifiers, and they also have the ability to transfer and move data over an extensive network. The need for human-to-human or even human-to-computer interaction is reduced quite significantly.
How It Can Be Applied in The Healthcare Industry
The most obvious use of IoT is in portal technology. This makes it possible for patients to be engaged much more as far as their treatments are concerned. The patients will be able to access their total medical records quite quickly, and they can do it from anywhere in the world, and even when they are on the move from one place to another.
It will help them to manage better appointments with physicians, hospitals, nursing homes, and other such stakeholders. Health care providers will be able to track senior patients and other critically ill patients on a real-time basis.
This technology is perfectly suited for those who are suffering from chronic illnesses and medication conditions that are long-standing in nature.
It Helps Trigger Certain Events Automatically
The next important advantage is that IoT has many electronic devices that are interconnected. They could go a long way in capturing or even monitoring data. The data can be stored on a public or private cloud system.
When the data is readily available, it is possible to automatically trigger certain important events. We all know that there are many devices that are used in the healthcare industry. These include glucose meters, thermometers, analyzers for blood-gas, mobile x-ray machines, smart beds, etc.
In all these devices and for many other such things, there is no denying the fact that IoT in healthcare can go a long way in transforming patient care.
Specific Areas Where IoT Can Be Used Regularly
Apart from the above common devices, there are many other devices where IoT can certainly play a big and positive role.
There are some big names like JD Edwards, who have started showing the way to the world at large. Taking a cue from such organizations, we are listing down some more very common areas where there is a possibility of using this technology to good effect.
Implanted Medical Devices
Implanted devices are becoming quite common in the health industry, and hospitals and health care providers are making use of it. They come in handy when there is a need to replace a missing biological structure or even an existing one that is not performing well because of a number of reasons.
A few examples include implantable fusion pumps and various other drug delivery devices. A few more examples include implantable neurotransmitter systems, cardiac pacemakers, and, of course, glucose monitoring devices, as mentioned above.
Stationery Medical Devices
Apart from implanted devices, IoT is also now very commonly used in many stationary medical devices. These include X-Ray Machines, MRI Machines, telehealth, and telemedicine systems, amongst other things.
All these go a long way in making health care more patients oriented rather than being oriented towards the health care providers. A large amount of real-time data and information is generated, and they can be stored by the hospital on the cloud.
The doctors and specialists can make use of the same as efficiently and possibly, and it could go a long way in improving overall health care by quite a few notches.
The Final Word
Hence it is quite evident from the above that there are many positive changes happening in the field of IoT, and its impact on the hospital and health industry is just beginning to be felt. Though it is still in its nascent stage, the sheer possibilities and opportunities do offer quite a few exciting things as far as the future is concerned.