What is IoT, and why is it used in healthcare?
IoT is a network of devices that exchange information through the internet. It is done so for two main purposes: to gather more accurate data and send it directly to the specialists, and to introduce means of automation. As such, it proves vital to tackle issues consuming modern medical industry.
The healthcare industry faces numerous challenges. With the aging population, the number of patients increases while the amount of hospital beds is shrinking. It is estimated that over 25% of patients suffer from healthcare-acquired infections. The way to battle these problems is by introducing better, data-driven management measures – and this is what IoT in healthcare is used for.
How is IoT used in healthcare?
IoT devices are used to solve specific problems in healthcare. Therefore, we will divide this section into particular use cases.
IoT vs. the shrinking number of hospital beds
Hospital beds are in short supply. It is difficult to acquire them, thus many clinics need to handle their shortage. Yet, a lower number of hospital beds will not stop patients from needing professional care. This creates a need for advanced hospital bed management.
IoT devices are used in two ways to solve this issue. Firstly, intelligent trackers are attached to each bed. This prevents them from being stolen or going missing. Secondly, smart bands are given to patients. These are used to track a patient’s status in the hospital – whether they are waiting for a free bed, occupy one or leave it. As a result, the staff is capable of managing patient flow quickly, in real-time, thus reducing the waiting queues.
IoT vs. chronic diseases
IoT is also used in healthcare to aid physicians with treating chronic diseases. If the illness’s symptoms and development are measurable, such as is the case with Parkinson or hypertension, IoT devices are applied to overlook all patient’s parameters and send real-time data directly to the doctors. This makes it possible for physicians to quickly adjust medication dosage, while not leaving their office. It is not only beneficial for these particular patients – reducing the need of regular visit, increases the time that each doctor has for other people, thus decreasing the problems caused by medical staff shortage.
IoT vs. healthcare-acquired infections
IoT trackers are also introduced to reduce the amount of healthcare-acquired infections. Equipping hospital patients and staff with smart bands allows the doctors to oversee who each patient met. Thus, if one has an infectious disease, it is possible to quickly analyze who could have gotten contaminated and isolate them, reducing the spread of the illness.
Conclusion
IoT is commonly used in healthcare. It is so, because it enhances hospital management, helps treat chronic diseases and finally hinders the restricts the spread of infectious illnesses. Therefore, each modern hospital should opt for these solutions.