Implementing IoT in healthcare: Benefits and Limitations

“One of the biggest challenges of medicine is the incorporation of information technology in our practices.”

-Samuel Wilson

 

There used to be a time when people weren’t that obvious with their health and well-being. But people nowadays are too conscious when it comes to their medical well-being. After all, what’s the benefit of life when it is not healthy and wealthy?

 

Healthcare is the basic necessity of human beings. And it is equally essential to upgrade and modernize these healthcare facilities to serve the growing needs of mankind. 

 

In the past few decades, the healthcare sector has been involved by the means of AI technologies and IoT. In this blog, we will study the role of IoT in revolutionizing healthcare facilities and technologies.

 

Also Read | What is IoT?

 

 

IoT and Healthcare

 

IoT in general has revolutionized every battlefield of life. From IoT in customer care to IoT in data analytics, the Internet of Things is popular in all realms of life. It is defined as the technology that connects multiple devices or things with the means of the internet. It also facilitates the transfer of data and information from one device to another. 

 

Recent years have witnessed the implementation of IoT in healthcare. And by 2022 the global market of IoT healthcare tech will shoot up to $400 billion. IoT helps in maintaining the chain of healthcare -the real-time data and continuous flow of it from one device to another. 

 

IoT helps in maintaining the chain of healthcare. Thus, the IoT healthcare facility is basically a collection of ubiquitous computing. IoT based healthcare techniques collect the raw data from patients and process inputs for doctors and health specialists. 

 

This flow of data can literally help in saving someone’s life at the time of risk. And not only the patient’s health, IoT also helps in managing healthcare employee productivity and hospital workflows.

 

How does IoT assist the healthcare process?

 

You might be wondering about the particular fields of healthcare which are influenced by IoT. Well, the process is basic and quite simple. An IoT sensor collects the data from the patient or a medical representative. 

 

Later AI and ML algorithms are used to analyze the collected data. The devices further decide how to act on that information. Doctors later make actionable and informed decisions by the means of IoT healthcare solutions. Here is the detailed list of the impacts that IoT has created in the healthcare sector. 

 

1. Symptom tracking apps.

 

2. Connected hospital equipment.

 

3. Staff monitoring apps.

 

4. Remote temperature monitoring.

 

5. Storage facilities.

 

6. Healthcare IT solutions.

 

7. Continuous Glucose Monitors.

 

8. Smart inhalers.

 

9. Diagnosis applications.

 

10. Allergy predictors.

 

By the means of the above fields mentioned, IoT is transforming the healthcare sector. 

 

Also Read | Top Healthcare Technologies

 

 

Advantages of IoT in Healthcare

 

The advantages of IoT are countless and numerous. The major benefits of IoT in healthcare are as follows:

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Advantages of IoT in healthcare

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1. Real-time monitoring

 

The IoT techniques help in remote health monitoring. The real-time monitoring helps in maintaining an information chain. Further it can transfer this information to a cloud service, insurance company or a physician whenever required. The information can be connected to a smartphone app and other medical devices. 

 

The information can include any data related to blood pressure, oxygen, blood sugar levels, and ECGs. IoT and connected devices can save lives in the case of a medical emergency. 

 

The emergencies sometimes may include a serious health situation related to heart failure, asthma or stocks. Recently a study revealed that around 50% heart failure cases have been reduced due to remote patient monitoring.

 

2. Cost optimization

 

IoT helps in cost reduction of the whole procedure. Consider an example, if something happens to your body, be it a symptom of a medical emergency. 

 

What will you do first? You will go to the doctor or a physician, the medical representative will prescribe you a whole body examination and an entire list of medical tests. Health is something you can never bargain with. You will simply follow the instructions.

 

But if you have fed up your medical data to a smart device. The physician can simply analyze that data and recommend the best prevention for you. It ultimately reduces the number of visits to the doctors and hospitals. And makes the testing and hospital admissions more affordable and reliable.

 

3. End-to-end connectivity

 

IoT bridges the gap between healthcare mobility solutions, IoT technologies and next generation healthcare facilities. The chief characteristics of IoT like interoperability, AI, machine to machine communication, data flow and information exchange build healthcare facilities stronger and strengthen its roots.

 

IoT also helps in maintaining a connectivity link between personnel by the means of connectivity protocols like Bluetooth LE, ZigBee and others. They spot illness and defects in patients and innovate revolutionary ways of treatments.

 

4. Data assortment

 

IoT helps in data assortment. The vast amount of data connected by healthcare devices is a big thing to manage and organize. The data gathered in a short time owing to the real-time application is hard to store and manage. But this can be done if sufficient space is available in cloud storage.

 

IoT devices help in collection and analyses of raw data. Thus, it helps in highlighting only the required information from the raw data. The data driven insights also help in speeding up the decision making process and make the decision more secure.

 

5. Medical assistance

 

IoT is responsible for several smart mobile apps. These applications help the patients to contact a doctor even though he is living miles away. Thus, by providing immediate medication and assistance. These applications can help in reducing and fighting the life risks. 

 

Even a few years ago, a forecast was made that states that IoT is working on future machines. That will dispense drugs as per the patient’s prescription and ill conditions.

 

6. Research

 

Research plays an important role in medical fields. Research is important for both drug development and medicinal diagnosis. IoT helps in building the research and development sector. Research also enhances the quality of healthcare services and facilities.

 

IoT assists in collecting and analyzing a huge amount of data. The huge amount of data given by IoT can take more than years if collected manually. The statistical data collected further help in medical research and assistance. It helps in the introduction of bigger and better medical treatments.

 

Further benefits implementing IoT in healthcare are prevention, detection, improved treatment, improved healthcare management, and immediate data accessibility.

 

 

Challenges and Risks of IoT in Healthcare

 

Following are the limitations of implementing IoT  in healthcare:

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Limitations of IoT in healthcare

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1. Privacy

 

Privacy is the major drawback of IoT. It is a major concern deterring users from using IoT technology. We have already seen so many cases in history where data breach or data leakage has affected the users.

 

2. Security

 

Data security is an issue of major concern among users. IoT and its technologies don't grant the security of data fed. The data once entered in the system is used by different systems and personnel.

 

3. Chances of failure

 

Software and internet related devices are always prone to bugs and failure. Even a small bug can create a huge mess for the data and information stored in the devices. Though, this limitation can be surpassed by backing up regularly.

 

4. Electricity Dependance

 

IoT devices are totally power dependent. Without batteries and electricity these devices are just bodies without organs.

 

5. Implementation

 

The implementation and integration of IoT setup is also an issue. If the implementation is not done as per the scale, it will affect the potential capability of the devices. The lack of uniformity in organizations also limits the potential.

 

6. High cost

 

There is no doubt that AI and IoT technologies have high potential, but the cost of implementation and maintenance is quite high. The advanced machines and stable internet connection require heavy investment funds.

 

Also Read | IoT in Fitness

 

IoT winds up the gap between the physical world and digital devices. Particularly in the healthcare sector, it is important to implement IoT as it can provide timely help and even save a life. So, it is essential to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of IoT and to mitigate it in a way to maximize the profits.