IoT, short for the Internet of Things, is widely used these days. In the Healthcare industry, IoT has gained significant prominence. Let’s explore how IoT and mobile apps are altering the healthcare business, the advantages they provide, and the promise for the future.
Introduction:
The fast progress of technology has revolutionized several industries, including healthcare. Healthcare providers now have the means to provide more personalized, efficient, and accessible services because of the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) and mobile applications. IoT has grown in popularity because it has enormous potential for improving patient care, optimizing processes, and boosting overall healthcare solutions.
How IoT can be Applicable in Healthcare Solutions:
Let’s talk about how the Internet of Things may help the healthcare industry to evolve.
Smart Medical Devices and Equipment:
Internet of Things connectivity can improve the capabilities of medical devices and equipment. Infusion pumps, for example, may measure medicine distribution, give notifications for refills or problems, and easily interface with patient data. Similarly, IoT-connected imaging devices may send images to the cloud, where radiologists and other professionals can access them immediately.
Remote Patient Monitoring:
Internet of Things (IoT) devices allow continuous monitoring of patient’s vital signs, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose levels, outside typical healthcare facilities. This enables healthcare personnel to watch patients’ health conditions remotely, discover irregularities, and respond quickly when necessary.
Telehealth and Remote Care:
IoT enables the delivery of telehealth services and remote care. Patients may communicate with healthcare practitioners via video consultations, exchange real-time health data via IoT devices, and receive remote monitoring and assistance for managing chronic illnesses or post-operative care.
Wearable Devices:
IoT-powered wearable devices, such as smartwatches, fitness trackers, and medical wearables, allow people to monitor their health and measure parameters such as physical activity, sleep patterns, and calorie intake. These gadgets give valuable data for personal health management and can inform healthcare personnel during an emergency or urgent health incident.
Medication Management:
Internet of Things-based medication management solutions assist patients in sticking to drug regimens and avoiding mistakes. Smart pill dispensers can send reminders, dispense the proper dosage at the exact time, and alert healthcare practitioners or carers in the event of missed doses or medication noncompliance.
Healthcare Asset Tracking:
The Internet of Things (IoT) allows real-time tracking of medical equipment, supplies, and assets inside healthcare institutions. This assists in streamlining inventory management, reducing loss or theft, improving asset utilization, and ensuring critical equipment is immediately available when needed.
Smart Healthcare Facilities:
IoT technologies have the potential to improve hospital operations and patient experiences. Smart lighting and temperature management solutions can improve patient comfort while consuming less energy. Real-time detection of equipment faults or maintenance requirements via automated monitoring systems ensures timely action and minimizes downtime.
Data Analytics and Predictive Insights:
When combined with advanced analytics tools, IoT-generated data may give important insights into patient health trends, illness patterns, and treatment results. This data-driven approach can aid predictive analytics for early intervention, illness prevention, and personalized treatment strategies.
Mobile Applications and IoT complementing each other in Healthcare Industry:
Now let’s talk about why Mobile Apps and IoT collaboration is required to improve patient care, streamline processes, and improve healthcare results.
Personalized Health Management
Internet of Things (IoT) devices and sensors create massive volumes of data on a person’s health, habits, and surroundings. Mobile apps may use this data to deliver personalized health management suggestions and actions. For example, an IoT-enabled wearable gadget may gather data on a user’s sleep habits, which a mobile app may then use to provide personalized sleep hygiene guidelines and ideas for increasing sleep quality.
Seamless Data Transmission and Analysis:
IoT devices may send data in real time to mobile apps, providing instant access to essential health information. This continuous data transfer enables healthcare practitioners to quickly analyze data, spot trends, and make educated decisions. Advanced analytics may also be used in mobile apps to analyze and interpret data from many IoT devices, providing complete insights into a patient’s overall health and well-being.
Patient Interaction and Education
While IoT devices give data and insights to support these activities, mobile applications provide a platform for patient interaction and education. Mobile apps may provide personalized health advice, instructional information, and interactive tools based on data acquired from IoT devices. This combination improves patient engagement, increases self-care, and enables people to participate actively in their health management.
Data Collection and Integration
Wearables, medical sensors, and linked medical equipment capture real-time patient data such as vital signs, activity levels, and medication adherence. Users access and see this data using mobile apps, providing valuable insights into their health. Mobile applications may also be used in conjunction with IoT devices to collect and present data in a user-friendly fashion, making it more straightforward for patients and healthcare practitioners to monitor and comprehend health data.
Improved Care Coordination
IoT devices and mobile applications make it easier for healthcare practitioners to communicate and share information. IoT devices may provide patient data to mobile applications, which authorized healthcare personnel can subsequently access. This allows for greater care coordination, collaborative decision-making, and more efficient healthcare service delivery.
Companies embraced the combined power of combining IoT and Mobile Applications to revolutionize their Healthcare Software:
Philips Healthcare
Philips created the “eCareCoordinator” IoT-based smartphone app to provide remote patient monitoring and care coordination for patients with chronic diseases. The app links to numerous IoT devices to collect patient data, including vital sign monitors and wearable sensors. The software allows healthcare practitioners to access the data for remote monitoring and prompt actions. The software has improved patient outcomes, reduced hospital readmissions, and improved care coordination between patients and healthcare providers.
Proteus Digital Health
Proteus created an Internet of Things-enabled medication management system that combines an ingestible sensor, a wearable patch, and a mobile app. When consumed, the sensor incorporated in the drug transmits a signal to the wearable patch and mobile app. The app monitors medication adherence, issues reminders, and notifies healthcare practitioners or carers if doses are missed. This IoT-based medication adherence solution has improved drug adherence rates and patient outcomes, particularly for patients with chronic diseases.
Livongo
Livongo, a digital health business, created an IoT-based diabetes management smartphone app. The app interacts with linked glucose meters and other wearable devices to measure blood glucose levels, physical activity, and other health data. The app gives users real-time feedback, personalized insights, and instructional information to help them manage their diabetes. Individuals with diabetes who use Livongo’s IoT-enabled mobile app report improved glycemic control, higher engagement, and lower healthcare expenditures.
AmWell
Amwell is a telemedicine platform that provides virtual consultations via an IoT-enabled smartphone app. The software links users to healthcare specialists through video chat for remote consultations, enabling diagnostic, treatment, and prescription services. To assist remote examination, the app interfaces with numerous IoT devices, such as linked stethoscopes or otoscopes. AmWell’s IoT-based mobile app has increased access to healthcare, particularly in underdeveloped areas, and has proven beneficial in providing patients with easy and timely care.
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