“IoT in Healthcare: Enhancing Patient Well-Being

The use of IoT technologies in the healthcare industry has brought about significant improvements that have changed how healthcare professionals care for their patients. The market of IoT in healthcare is growing like never before and is estimated to be worth $289.2 billion by 2028. 

Today, thanks to IoT devices, we’re witnessing an ongoing revolution in healthcare and the implementation of highly innovative and smart solutions. 

They aim to improve patient care, increase the efficiency of staff and treatments, and optimize remote patient monitoring. Could the IoT devices be the missing link to better healthcare for everyone?-Let’s find out together.

The Role of IoT in Healthcare

IoT devices have become an indispensable tool in maintaining patients’ health and well-being globally. 

IoT interconnected devices in healthcare include sensors, medical devices, wearables, and other technologies capable of gathering and transmitting data in real time. 

Thanks to this valuable data, healthcare professionals get insight into their patients’ health conditions, monitor their symptoms, and notice potential health risks before they become more serious.

The iGame project is an excellent example of the power of IoT to better the healthcare industry. This project develops game production techniques with ready-to-use toolkits that promote innovation processes in eHealth and mHealth apps.

5 Innovative Uses of IoT in the Healthcare Industry

Proper application of IoT technologies in healthcare plays a major role in improving the experience of healthcare professionals and patients. Here are some of the most popular IoT technologies that are revolutionizing patient care:

  • Remote patient monitoring 

As IoT devices transfer data in real time, it’s easier for healthcare professionals to keep track of the health of their patients remotely. 

This creates numerous possibilities. 

For example, healthcare professionals can monitor their elderly patients or patients with impairments when they’re at home. And, they can track hospitalized patients easier and give their family members or staff free time to decompress.

  • Advanced patient care

Smart wearable devices have become a crucial part of our daily lives and people use them regularly to monitor different health parameters. 

Such devices are also vital in healthcare. 

These wearable devices promote optimal patient care and treatment by giving staff a chance to track important parameters in their patients like blood pressure, heart rate, sleeping patterns, movement irregularities, etc.

  • Higher operational efficiency 

Integrating IoT technology in the healthcare industry elevates operational efficiency. IoT asset tracking systems are one way to get there. 

For example, when implemented in busy hospital settings, such systems help the staff keep track of medical equipment inventory and find necessary assets quickly. 

In this way, they save precious time and ensure all of the necessary medical equipment is readily available to all patients.

  • Valuable information gathering

Thanks to the interconnectedness of medical devices, the data of patients is continuously shared amongst parents, carers, doctors, nurses, companies, and other involved parties. 

This doesn’t just improve the care and treatment of patients, but the IoT sensors that gather data may play a role in acquiring the necessary insight into various diseases, the effectiveness of treatments, and other aspects that professionals can use for better understanding and treatment of diseases. 

  • Patient security & comfort 

Connected devices and sensors help healthcare professionals administer therapy precisely and timely, track the movements of patients, and monitor the temperature and humidity in patients’ rooms to optimize comfort and security. Smart lighting in hospitals is increasingly popular as it promotes patient comfort and lowers energy costs by as much as 80 percent. 

Smart thermostats can help hospitals save around 8 percent on heating costs every year. The use of RFID tags eases the tracking of supplies and equipment which may ultimately improve staff organization and ensure patients get the best treatment possible. 

Final Thoughts

Despite the evident benefits of IoT in healthcare, there are plenty of challenges associated with it. 

For example, concerns about data security, interoperability problems, accuracy of IoT devices, lack of regulations, ethical concerns, and high implementation costs are only some of the problems that this industry is facing.

Still, by addressing these challenges in a joint effort of all involved sides and embracing IoT technology, these barriers can be overcome. Ultimately, all healthcare organizations should be able to create a personalized, effective, and safer healthcare system for everyone. 

If you’re not sure how healthcare IoT solutions can advance your business, don’t hesitate to contact our experts at ArtHaus to learn all about IoT trends in healthcare. We’ve been delivering effective IT solutions within budget for more than two decades.