The healthcare industry is undergoing a profound transformation, thanks to the Internet of Things (IoT). The integration of IoT technology into healthcare systems is revolutionizing patient care, treatment processes, and medical research. In this article, we’ll explore how IoT is making its mark on the healthcare sector, its key applications, benefits, and the implications for the future of healthcare.

IoT in Healthcare: A Game Changer

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the network of interconnected physical devices, vehicles, buildings, and other objects embedded with sensors, software, and network connectivity that allows them to collect and exchange data. In healthcare, IoT is enabling the collection and analysis of vast amounts of patient data, promoting remote monitoring, and enhancing the efficiency of medical facilities.

Key Applications of IoT in Healthcare

1. Remote Patient Monitoring

IoT has enabled healthcare providers to remotely monitor patients with chronic conditions. Wearable devices, such as smartwatches and sensors, collect real-time data on vital signs, activity levels, and other health parameters. This data is transmitted to healthcare providers who can intervene when necessary, offering timely care and preventing hospital readmissions.

2. Smart Medical Devices

IoT is giving rise to a new generation of smart medical devices. From connected inhalers that monitor medication usage to intelligent pill dispensers that send medication adherence reminders, these devices help patients manage their health more effectively and enable healthcare providers to track patient compliance.

3. Telemedicine

Telemedicine, or remote medical consultations, has seen tremendous growth with the help of IoT. Video conferencing and remote monitoring tools allow patients to consult with healthcare professionals from the comfort of their homes. This approach not only increases access to care but also reduces the burden on healthcare facilities.

4. Asset and Inventory Management

IoT is improving the management of medical equipment and supplies. Sensors can track the location and status of medical devices, ensuring their availability when needed. This results in cost savings and reduces the risk of delays in patient care.

5. Clinical Workflow Optimization

IoT can optimize clinical workflows by connecting various systems and devices. For example, electronic health records (EHRs) can be seamlessly integrated with diagnostic equipment, automating data transfer and reducing the risk of errors.

6. Hospital and Home Automation

IoT extends to the management of hospital infrastructure and home care. Smart building systems can control lighting, heating, and cooling, ensuring a comfortable environment for patients. Similarly, home automation systems can be integrated with healthcare devices to support independent living for elderly or disabled individuals.

7. Drug Management and Compliance

IoT is used to monitor drug storage conditions, ensuring that medications remain effective and safe. It can also help patients adhere to their medication regimens by sending reminders and tracking consumption.

Benefits of IoT in Healthcare

The integration of IoT in healthcare offers numerous advantages:

1. Improved Patient Outcomes

Remote monitoring and real-time data analysis enable healthcare providers to intervene promptly when health parameters deviate from normal ranges. This leads to improved patient outcomes, reduced hospital readmissions, and better management of chronic conditions.

2. Enhanced Efficiency

IoT streamlines healthcare workflows by automating various processes, such as patient data entry and medical equipment tracking. This reduces administrative burden, frees up staff time, and reduces errors.

3. Cost Savings

Efficiency gains and improved patient outcomes often translate into cost savings for healthcare facilities and patients. Preventing hospital readmissions and complications reduces the overall cost of care.

4. Increased Accessibility

Telemedicine and remote monitoring extend healthcare access to underserved or remote areas. Patients can consult with specialists without the need for long-distance travel, making healthcare more accessible.

5. Personalized Treatment

IoT allows for personalized treatment plans by continuously monitoring a patient’s condition and adjusting treatment regimens accordingly. This personalized approach often leads to more effective treatment and improved patient satisfaction.

Challenges and Considerations

While IoT in healthcare offers significant benefits, it also poses challenges and considerations:

1. Data Security and Privacy

Healthcare data is sensitive and subject to strict privacy regulations. The secure storage and transmission of patient data is of utmost importance to maintain patient trust and regulatory compliance.

2. Interoperability

IoT devices and systems must be compatible and interoperable to ensure seamless data exchange and integration. This requires the development and adoption of common standards.

3. Regulatory Compliance

The healthcare industry is heavily regulated, and IoT solutions must adhere to these regulations. Compliance with standards such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is crucial.

4. Data Overload

The continuous collection of patient data can result in information overload. Healthcare providers need effective tools for data management and interpretation to extract valuable insights.

5. Resistance to Change

The adoption of IoT in healthcare requires a cultural shift and staff training. Resistance to change can be a barrier to successful implementation.

The Future of IoT in Healthcare

As technology continues to advance, the future of IoT in healthcare looks promising. Here are some trends and developments to watch for:

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Integration

IoT and AI will work hand in hand to analyze vast amounts of patient data and offer insights for diagnosis, treatment, and predictive healthcare.

2. Wearable Health Tech

Wearable devices will continue to evolve, becoming more sophisticated and integrated into daily life. They will offer not only health monitoring but also wellness and lifestyle recommendations.

3. 5G Connectivity

The rollout of 5G networks will provide faster and more reliable connectivity for IoT devices, enabling real-time data transmission and analysis.

4. Blockchain Technology

Blockchain can be used to enhance the security and integrity of healthcare data, ensuring that patient records remain accurate and private.

5. Telehealth Expansion

The growth of telehealth and remote monitoring will continue, extending healthcare access and reducing the need for in-person visits.

Conclusion

IoT is reshaping the healthcare industry, making it more patient-centric, efficient, and accessible. The integration of IoT devices and systems allows for real-time patient monitoring, personalized treatment plans, and enhanced efficiency in healthcare facilities.

Challenges related to data security, interoperability, and regulatory compliance must be addressed to ensure the benefits of IoT in healthcare are fully realized. As IoT technology continues to advance, it will remain a driving force in transforming healthcare, offering a glimpse into a future where healthcare is not just about treating illness but also about preventing it and promoting overall well-being.

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According to a new research report from the IoT analyst firm Berg Insight, the installed base of medication compliance monitoring devices reached 4.4 million worldwide at the end of 2022.

Growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.2 percent, the installed base will reach 8.2 million in 2023.

North America is the leading medication compliance monitoring market accounting for 63 percent of the market value in 2022. Government regulations significantly impact the market growth with the release of new CPT codes in the US, encouraging the adoption of connected health devices.

On a macro level, one of the main reasons for the high use of connected medication compliance monitoring solutions in North America is the high per-patient treatment costs in the US compared to other countries in the world.

Europe and the Rest of World accounted for around 24 percent and 13 percent of the market value respectively in 2022. The European region is gaining traction thanks to the introduction of digital health regulations in major economies such as Germany and France.

The definition of medication compliance monitoring includes products and services that assist the patients in adhering to a medication regimen. Medication compliance monitoring solutions include injected medication solutions, inhaled medication solutions, and pill bottles and dispensers. Medication compliance monitoring solutions incorporate connectivity, a companion smartphone application and algorithms to personalize patient care in real time.

Injected medication solutions is the largest segment of the market corresponding to 3.6 million connected devices. Injected medication solutions are offered in different forms such as insulin pumps, pens, autoinjectors, smart buttons, add-on sensors and pen caps. Notable vendors include top players by installed base such as Medtronic, Insulet and Tandem Diabetes. Additional key companies operating in this segment are Eli Lilly and Company, Merck Group, Noble International, Novo Nordisk, Phillips-Medisize and Roche.

The total installed base of inhaled medication solutions reached 181,000 devices worldwide in 2022. This market segment includes connected devices such as inhalers and smart inhaler sensors. The digital respiratory market is in an emerging state with multiple solution providers operating in this segment. Leading connected inhaled medication providers include Propeller Health, Adherium, Teva Pharmaceuticals and Aptar Group, as well as Amiko Digital Health, FindAir, Cognita Labs and NuvoAir.

The pill bottle and dispenser solution market reached an installed base of 640,000 units at the end of 2022. This segment includes pill boxes, automatic medication dispensers, pill bottles and smart blisters that assist in reminding, dispensing and recording the medication-taking behaviour of a patient. The pill bottle and dispenser solution segment is a fragmented market that is evolving quickly and includes both consumer-oriented technology companies and traditional healthcare incumbents such as MedReady, Evondos, Hero Health, Compliance Meds Technologies, AdhereTech, MedMinder and Spencer Health Solutions.

The global market for medication compliance management solutions is affected by several trends and developments that will have an impact on the competitive landscape during the forecast period. Changing demographics are driving the demand for home care, while technological developments and regulatory changes affect the competitive landscape for solution vendors. One major transition has been from traditional drug delivery to smart drug delivery, which has encouraged companies to adopt connected solutions.

Vatsala Raina, IoT Analyst, Berg Insight, says:

“AI technologies are finding its way into the medication compliance monitoring market and vendors are for instance working on solutions to enable early detection of acute exacerbation of respiratory diseases.”

At the same time, the industry is becoming more patient-centric which calls for integrated systems and improved interoperability of connected care solutions. New companies are entering the connected care market and connected medication management solutions are today at the center of attention for start-ups.

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The Healthcare domain has witnessed significant advancements through the Internet of Things (IoT) and its more specialized offshoot, the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). To integrate devices seamlessly into a unified IoT system, firmware development and embedded solutions for IoT play a vital role.

This article will explore the impact of embedded solutions and good firmware development on the performance of IoT devices in the Healthcare industry.

Although we won’t even scratch the surface of most technical aspects of firmware development here, we must emphasize the importance of firmware development expertise for ensuring optimal device performance.

IoT in Healthcare Market Review and Forecast

According to Market Research Future, the global Internet of Medical Things market was $48.7 billion in 2022. Other forecasts project that it could reach as much as $516 billion by or before 2032, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.15%. North America leads the market, accounting for nearly 36% of the global share. This growth will most likely be driven by advanced healthcare technologies, remote patient monitoring demand, and the arrival of major market players from other segments.

The Rise of IoT in Healthcare

The increasing prominence of IoT in healthcare is revolutionizing the industry. The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) spans networks and integrations bridging equipment, software applications, and health systems to facilitate the exchange of vital health data. This network interconnects a wide range of devices, including wearables, remote monitoring systems, implanted devices, and other smart healthcare devices. These interconnected devices facilitate seamless interactions between healthcare providers and patients, enhancing communication and improving the healthcare experience. By leveraging IoMT, healthcare organizations aim to enhance patient outcomes, reduce healthcare expenses, and elevate the quality of care. The most vital aspect of developing within this space is firmware/embedded solutions because of the impacts and attributes we explore below.

The Impact of Embedded Solutions on IoT Device Performance

Embedded solutions are essential components that enable seamless connectivity and integration of devices within the IoT ecosystem. While numerous other technical factors must converge for successful IoT development, it is crucial to highlight how embedded solutions and firmware development contribute to the optimal performance of IoT devices in healthcare.

Device Integration

Embedded solutions facilitate the smooth integration of various medical devices, sensors, and wearables, enabling them to work cohesively within the IoT network. This integration streamlines data collection, analysis, and exchange, facilitating significant improvements in diagnosis and treatment because of the increased accessibility of high-quality remote patient monitoring.

Reliable Data Transmission

Firmware ensures secure and efficient data transmission between IoT devices and healthcare systems. By implementing robust communication protocols and encryption mechanisms, firmware solutions enhance data privacy and integrity, which helps to reduce the likelihood and severity of cyber incidents, data breaches, or any unauthorized access.

Over-the-Air Updates

Embedded solutions and high-quality firmware enable seamless over-the-air (OTA) updates, allowing healthcare organizations to remotely update and upgrade device functionalities, security features, and performance improvements. This ease of access eliminates manual intervention and minimizes disruptions in healthcare operations.

Device Optimization

Firmware plays a crucial role in optimizing the performance of IoT devices. By fine-tuning device parameters, managing power consumption, and implementing efficient algorithms, firmware solutions ensure that IoT devices operate at their peak performance levels. This optimization directly impacts healthcare IoT devices’ reliability, responsiveness, and overall functionality.

Fine-tuning Device Parameters

Firmware enables the customization of device parameters to meet the specific requirements of the healthcare domain. By adjusting settings such as data sampling rates, measurement accuracy, and device sensitivity, firmware solutions can optimize the device’s performance for different healthcare applications. For example, in wearable devices, firmware can be tailored to capture vital signs accurately while minimizing false alarms or unnecessary data transmissions.

Power Consumption Management

Efficient power management is critical in healthcare IoT devices, as they often operate on limited battery life or rely on energy harvesting techniques. firmware solutions implement power-saving mechanisms such as intelligent sleep modes, optimized data transmission protocols, and adaptive power allocation strategies to prolong the device’s battery life. Such increased efficiency ensures continuous operation without frequent battery replacements or recharging, enhancing user convenience and reducing maintenance costs.

Efficient Algorithms

Firmware plays a vital role in implementing efficient algorithms that process and analyze the data collected by IoT devices. By leveraging advanced signal processing techniques, machine learning algorithms, and data compression methods, firmware optimizes the utilization of computational resources within the device. This decreased data size and increased computing efficiency leads to more accurate data analysis in less time. These enhancements can directly lead to better patient outcomes through predictive analytics, earlier detection of any anomalies, and accurate, personalized healthcare insights.

Device Security and Safety

High-quality firmware development can also ensure the security and safety of healthcare IoT devices. For example, firmware can implement robust authentication mechanisms, encryption protocols, and secure boot processes to safeguard sensitive patient data and prevent tampering or unauthorized access. Additionally, firmware can incorporate fail-safe mechanisms and error detection algorithms to prevent system failures or malfunctions that could compromise patient safety.

Softeq – Experts in IoT Firmware and Embedded Development

Softeq is a leading provider of embedded and IoT development services with extensive expertise in developing firmware solutions for the healthcare domain. As a Microsoft Azure partner, an AWS Certified Partner, and an ISO 13485:2016 certified business, Softeq has demonstrated expertise in IoT firmware and embedded development for the healthcare sector. Our team of experienced engineers understands the unique challenges and requirements of the IoT ecosystem in healthcare, and we leverage cutting-edge technologies to deliver robust and high-performing embedded solutions like the following Case Study.

Case Study: Skin Cancer Detection Firmware

Softeq collaborated with Veriskin, a medical device company, to develop a handheld gadget for non-invasive skin cancer detection. Softeq’s firmware and embedded software expertise were instrumental in creating a complex Wi-Fi-enabled system. The solution featured an FPGA-powered handheld device based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon SD410 processor, incorporating LEDs, an audio speaker, an accelerometer, and a display. The firmware enabled real-time capture of LED light signal variations, translating them into a visual diagram. With algorithmic data analysis and a user-friendly interface, the device monitored vascular refilling rates. It provided a low-cost, prompt method for diagnosing malignant skin growth without biopsies or extensive examinations. The in-house firmware expertise at Softeq has played a crucial role in delivering a reliable IoMT solution for skin cancer screening.

Conclusion

Embedded solutions and effective firmware development play a crucial role in optimizing the performance of IoT devices in the Healthcare domain. By facilitating device integration, ensuring reliable data transmission, enabling OTA updates, and implementing device optimization techniques, firmware solutions contribute to enhanced patient monitoring, improved diagnosis and treatment, and streamlined healthcare operations. As the healthcare industry expands and accelerates its embrace of IoT’s potential, expert providers like Softeq stand ready to provide expertise and continue delivering innovative embedded solutions driving healthcare transformation through IoT technology.

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Introduction and Overview

It probably won’t surprise you that the Internet of Things (IoT) is revolutionizing the healthcare industry, creating new opportunities for improved patient care, cost reduction, and operational efficiency. However, the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) looks to bring even more innovation to the healthcare sector. IoMT includes some systems that were already staples of IoT, such as remote monitoring systems and wearable technology devices. However, IoMT expands the field through implanted devices and other smart connected devices that can feed critical and expensive or hard-to-access data back to healthcare providers.

Market Highlights

The market for this technology now appears set to grow from approximately $48.7 billion in 2022 to $370.9 billion by 2032, at a projected Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 23.15% (Source: Market.us). All signs suggest that North America will continue to be the most important region, given a market share of 35.8%. In comparison with other global regions, North America’s embrace of IoMT and the accompanying adoption of advanced healthcare technologies has been faster and more widespread. In turn, the availability of these technologies has driven demand for remote patient monitoring technologies and services.

The global COVID-19 pandemic also radically shifted the boundaries of medical technology, and it is no exaggeration to call this a turning point in the widespread adoption of IoMT devices in healthcare. During the pandemic, remote consultations, monitoring of vital signs, symptoms, and other health parameters, and vaccine distribution and administration have been widely adopted through IoMT devices. Moreover, the vast amount of health data generated during the pandemic has provided valuable insights for trend analysis and better-informed decision-making, leading to improved strategies for managing the pandemic and other healthcare challenges.

Trends Shaping Market Growth

There are several factors currently shaping the growth of IoT in healthcare. Technological advancements in connected devices, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud computing, have significantly improved the capabilities of IoMT devices and their potential impact on patient care. The increase in chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases, has also led to a higher demand for remote patient monitoring. This presents a key opportunity for IoMT by allowing healthcare providers to monitor patients remotely and provide early intervention, with improved patient outcomes and decreased hospitalization rates and shorter stays.

In addition to these driving factors, several trending factors are shaping the future of healthcare delivery through the integration of IoT technologies. The use of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, edge computing, blockchain, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and smart sensors, enables more efficient and personalized healthcare services. AI-enabled algorithms can perform in-depth real-time analysis on impossibly large amounts of health data streaming from IoMT devices. This analysis can identify patterns and trends for better decision-making and truly personalized treatment plans. Cutting-edge techniques and technologies like Edge Computing and widespread 5G also reduce latency and increase the speed of data transfers, enabling more data to move ever more easily. Taken together, these trends are leading toward a likely scenario where wearable tech alone will be worth $54 billion by the end of 2023 (Source: GlobalData).

IoMT Applications and Use Cases

IoMT devices are being used in various applications across the healthcare industry, including physiotherapy and sports/fitness therapy. Wearable medical devices, such as fitness trackers and smartwatches, are expected to dominate the IoMT market, holding the largest share of 45% (Source: Market.us). These devices are widely used for personal health monitoring, fitness tracking, and chronic disease management, among other applications.

One of the key benefits of IoMT devices is their ability to enhance patient engagement and empower individuals to take control of their health. Wearable medical devices enable patients to track their physical activity, sleep patterns, heart rate, and other health parameters, to make informed decisions about their health and lifestyle. Patients with chronic conditions can use IoMT devices to monitor their health parameters at home and share the data with their healthcare providers, enabling remote monitoring and personalized care plans.

Another major reason for the appeal of IoMT devices is their ability to improve patient safety and slash the costs of delivering healthcare. For example, medication dispensers with smart technology can help prevent medication errors by providing reminders and alerts to patients, ensuring timely and accurate medication administration. Smart hospital beds equipped with IoMT sensors can monitor patient movements, pressure points, and other parameters to prevent pressure ulcers and improve patient comfort.

For a deeper insight into IoMT, we’ll now consider the work of Softeq, a full-stack digital transformation and IoT development company, in building firmware for a custom skin cancer screening device.

Case Study: Firmware for a Non-Invasive Custom Skin Cancer Screening Device

The use of Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) devices has revolutionized the healthcare industry, with applications ranging from fitness tracking to chronic disease management. A medical device manufacturer with a specialization in skin cancer screening wanted to create a portable device that was capable of scanning for skin cancer non-invasively. The company turned to Softeq to test this idea’s viability and to create the firmware on which the device would ultimately run.

The Softeq team developed a complex hardware and software system using cutting-edge mobile hardware and software. The device had LED lights, a speaker, an accelerometer, a display, and other hardware components. It included a pair of photodetectors and a force sensor, collectively used to create a real-time visual representation of the patient’s skin.

The system observed how quickly blood was refilled in suspect skin lesions and analyzed the data using custom algorithms. It had firmware and software that included an audiovisual guide with error messages, LED lights calibrated to enhance the sensitivity of the photodetector, and the ability to store over 100 test results in its memory. The system also had a custom Linux BSP and drivers, built-in flash memory-based software, optimized Linux boot-time, firmware updates via USB, and secure login via SSH protocol.

Conclusion

It should be clear by now that IoT devices for healthcare and IoMT devices are completely transforming the health sector. However, there are a few things to be cautious of if you’re considering an internet of medical things project. In particular, the collection and transmission of sensitive patient data by IoMT devices pose significant concerns in terms of data privacy and security. In designing and constructing IoT in healthcare projects, it is vital to protect this data to safeguard patient privacy and comply with regulatory requirements like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Interoperability and standardization are also challenges, making it essential that you work with an experienced Healthcare Internet of Things development company like Softeq.

The bottom line is that IoMT devices are revolutionizing the healthcare industry by enabling remote patient monitoring, improving patient engagement, enhancing patient safety, and optimizing healthcare asset management. However, challenges related to data privacy, security, interoperability, and standardization need to be addressed to fully realize the potential of IoMT in improving patient care and outcomes. As technology continues to advance, IoMT is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the future of healthcare by enabling personalized, proactive, and patient-centric care.

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Healthcare is one of the most rapidly evolving industries in the world today, and advances in technology are propelling a large part of this transformation. The Internet of Things (IoT) is one of the most influential technological breakthroughs in recent years, and it has had a considerable effect on healthcare.

Also referred to as the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) or Internet of Healthcare Things (IoHT), the technology uses interconnected devices and sensors to collect and share data. This data can enhance patient care, manage chronic illnesses, and reduce expenses.

According to a recent report from Precedence Research, the global IoT in healthcare market size is expected to reach $960.2 billion by 2030. The market was valued at $180.5 billion in 2021; thus, it is expected to witness a CAGR of 20.41% from 2022 to 2030.

Considering the market growth, it is the right time to implement IoT in your healthcare services to offer simplified healthcare to your patients, reduce the overall operational costs and improve access to critical information.

A dedicated healthcare software development company can help put things into perspective per your custom business requirements. From offering efficient and simplified data collection and analysis all the way to easy system integration and support, a reliable development team can help you traverse the market with the help of this evolving technology.

This article will help you understand everything related to the impact of IoT on healthcare costs and resource utilization.

In addition, we will also look at the various applications of IoT in healthcare.

Understanding IoT in healthcare

The Internet of Things (IoT) is having a transformative effect on the healthcare industry. It enables patients to take a more active role in their care while providing healthcare providers with new tools to improve patient outcomes. Additionally, IoT is helping to make healthcare more cost-effective by reducing the need for expensive and invasive procedures. IoT makes healthcare more accessible and efficient, leading to better patient health outcomes.

Remote diagnostics and video monitoring are powerful tools for healthcare providers to detect and monitor the patient’s illness. This technology can help reduce costs by allowing doctors to provide care to patients without needing specialized or planned visits, thus increasing efficiency. Additionally, they can help identify potential issues before they become serious, allowing for quicker and more effective interventions that are further cost-effective.

If you are further looking to comprehend the revolutionizing effect of technology in the healthcare sector, check out our latest blog post on Understanding the impact of IoT in healthcare.

How is IoT making healthcare cost-effective?

The cost-effective nature of IoT in healthcare is a substantial impact that healthcare providers must consider. IoT in healthcare services can reduce the need for hospital visits and allow patients to be treated in the comfort of their homes.

Furthermore, IoT in healthcare is making it possible to collect data that healthcare providers can use to identify inefficiencies and make changes that will save time and money. These savings can then be passed on to patients in the form of lower costs, making healthcare more accessible and affordable.

Implementing Internet of Things (IoT) monitoring in doctors’ offices and hospitals has the potential to reduce operational costs drastically. This is because electronically managed healthcare information is much more cost-effective to access and analyze than paper records, provided the connected devices and transmitted information are adequately secured. As such, IoT monitoring offers a viable solution for reducing operational costs while ensuring healthcare information security.

Applications of IoT in healthcare

Improving Patient Care

Sometimes the overall environment of the hospitals is uncomfortable for the patients. It is a well-known fact that the more comfortable a patient is, the faster their recovery will be due to the reduced stress of hospitalization. A study published in the Journal of Health Environments Research concluded that patients and their families prioritize privacy, accessibility, comfort, and security in hospital rooms.

IoT solutions like smart thermostats and tailor-made lighting controls can provide greater comfort and control for patients and care providers. These solutions make the room brighter for caregiving tasks and procedures while allowing dimmer lighting for a more tranquil atmosphere. Automated window shades can also provide lighting control while allowing patients to experience natural sunlight’s health and mood benefits.

Helping Physicians in Better Decision Making

The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is revolutionizing the healthcare industry by allowing data collection without needing a physical exam. Wearable IoT technology further enables remote health monitoring, allowing doctors to accurately track vital signs, physical activity, and other important metrics that can inform changes to treatment plans or other interventions.

This technology provides a new level of convenience and accuracy to healthcare and is likely to grow in importance as it becomes more widely adopted.

Improving the Overall Safety of Healthcare Practices

IoT solutions can make hospital management practices way safer than they were before. For instance:

• Smart locks and security systems enable protocols to be instituted following predefined programs, such as lockdown scenarios.
• IoT maintenance sensors can alert facilities managers of potential risks and other dangers.
• Temperature sensors guarantee that food, blood, and medications are stored securely.
• Occupancy sensors assess waiting areas and notify personnel when nearing capacity, allowing critical patients to be redirected to other medical facilities.
• Digital wayfinding systems make it simpler to traverse hospitals.

Ending Note

As the growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) in healthcare and the evolution of the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) devices continues, healthcare facilities are becoming increasingly advanced, offering improved patient outcomes, better experiences for patients and visitors, and enhanced work environments for physicians.

With the influx of devices and data, healthcare professionals can gain valuable insights into medical environments, patient care, and treatment options. This access to data will enable doctors to identify trends, uncover new aspects of medical care, and use difficult-to-understand information previously. Ultimately, the impact of IoT in healthcare is just beginning, and many cutting-edge IoMT solutions are on the horizon.

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A new report from the IoT analyst firm Berg Insight has found that around 30.7 million people in North America were using connected care solutions at the end of 2022.

The figure refers to users of medical alert systems, connected medication management solutions and remote patient monitoring (RPM) solutions in Canada and the US.

RPM is the largest segment of the connected care market with a total of 28.3 million users at the end of 2022. The market for medical alert systems is considerably smaller with an estimated total of 4.4 million users, whereas the number of connected medication management users reached 1.8 million users at the end of 2022. There is an overlap between the market segments as medical alert users can also be equipped with a medication management solution or an RPM solution, and vice versa. The market is forecasted to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15..4 percent during the next five years to reach 62.7 million connected care users by 2027.

The leading use cases for RPM have thus far been sleep therapy monitoring. Patients that suffer from sleep-disordered breathing such as obstructive sleep apnea are typically prescribed an airflow generator, including continuous positive airway pressure, bilevel positive airway pressure and automatic positive airway pressure devices. However, many patients find the devices unpleasant to use and poor compliance is common. Payers are increasingly requiring that patients comply with their treatment plans to be reimbursed for the device which has driven equipment providers to connect the devices. ResMed is the largest player of connected airflow generators, partly thanks to the company’s decision to include a cellular IoT module as standard in its Air Solutions product family.

In the medical alert market, Connect America has emerged as the largest service provider after the acquisition of the Lifeline business from Philips in 2021, and is followed by Lively, Medical Guardian and Mobilehelp. The medication management market is still in an early phase and comprises several different types of solutions. The largest segment for connected solutions is injected medication, which is dominated by insulin pump providers such as Medtronic, Insulet and Tandem Diabetes Care. Other form factors such as such as connected medication caps, blister packs, pillboxes and pill dispensers are also starting to get traction.

“There is especially an increasing interest from research organisations and pharmaceutical companies to use medication management solutions in clinical trials”, said Samuel Andersson, IoT Analyst at Berg Insight.

The North American market for connected care solutions is affected by several trends and developments that will have an impact on the competitive landscape during the following years. Changing demographics is driving the demand for home care, while technological developments and regulatory changes affect the competitive landscape for solution vendors. The industry is becoming more patient-centric which calls for integrated systems and improved interoperability of connected care solutions. One example of this development is the on-going convergence of the medical alert and remote patient monitoring markets, where more and more medical alert providers have started to offer remote patient monitoring solutions. This includes integrated solutions that enable a combined delivery of medical alert and remote patent monitoring services.

Mr Andersson concluded:

“Care providers will start to offer more and more proactive and predictive services, by continuously analysing user data and acting on abnormalities. Such solutions rely on data not only from medical alert devices, but also from other sources such as smart home sensors, healthcare records and connected medical devices.”

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According to Future Market Insights, the worldwide IoT in Healthcare market is expected to reach US$ 181.4 Billion in 2022, growing at an 18.0% CAGR to US$ 952.3 Billion by 2032 over the forecast period.

Furthermore, a dollar opportunity worth US$ 770.9 Billion is anticipated for the market in the forthcoming decade.

By enabling real-time patient data access and remote patient monitoring, the Internet of Things (IoT) has the potential to disrupt traditional paper-based healthcare therapy. With the emergence of this digital healthcare technology, the impending need for enhanced diagnostics and targeted therapeutic options was met.

Furthermore, it not only enables physicians to remotely monitor patients, but it also functions as a fitness and wellness tracker for athletes and a dose reminder for patients. The successful implementation of IoT in remote monitoring of diabetic and asthma patients, along with the growing usage of fitness and wellness devices, has resulted in a considerable demand for the IoT healthcare business.

Key Takeaways from the Market Study

• IoT in healthcare experienced a growth rate worth 18.8% between 2015 and 2021
• Portable diagnostic devices in the IoT in Healthcare segment to expand at a CAGR of 10.1% during the forecast period
• In the U.S., the market is predicted to reach US$ 208.1 Billion while growing at a CAGR of 18.9% during the forecast period
• China’s market is expected to reach a market value of US$ 92.8 Billion with a CAGR of 19.5% during the forecast period

“Big data analytics is an area of IoT that is quickly expanding. The most recent breakthroughs in machine learning, logical procedures, computational intelligence, and data mining are required for big data analytics”, says an FMI analyst.

Competitive Landscape

Key players that have been profiled in the report are Apple Inc., Cisco Systems Inc., GE Healthcare Ltd., Google (Alphabet), International Business Machines Corporation, Medtronic PLC, Microsoft Corporation, Proteus Digital Health, Koninklijke Philips N.V., QUALCOMM Incorporated, and Abbot Laboratories are among companies that offer products and technologies that will allow customers to take advantage of new technologies.

• In April 2019, Royal Philips and Spencer Health Solutions expanded their relationship to provide chronically sick patients in selected European Union (EU) nations with in-home medication adherence and the Philips telehealth platform.
• Medtronic worked with IBM Watson in January 2019 to provide IQcast, a new feature of its current product Sugar.IQ, for iOS mobile devices in the United States. The software would provide patients with a hypoglycemic episode to monitor their low glucose level by anticipating the occurrence 1 to 4 hours in advance.

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IoT and healthcare is not a new concept, and it has been slowly finding its place in our healthcare system for years. One of the contributing factors in slowing the revolution has been the patient.

The very person it is aimed at helping. Shifting the role of medical providers from person to digital format is often met with some skepticism from patients, fearing a loss in the personable and human interaction medicine has historically had. The idea of a video call or virtual meeting with your doctor 18 months ago would have been unthinkable for many. How could a physician possibly diagnose a photo or treat an ailment through a screen? Covid-19 backed everyone into a corner and forced physicians to re-think and re-model their patient care. More importantly, perhaps, it forced patients into accepting a new age of treatment and consequently, and indirectly, facilitated the advancement of IoT in our healthcare system.

So, how can IoT revolutionize healthcare?

One thing that the pandemic required patients and medical staff to do was to maintain social distancing. Of course, there are times where it was impossible, but essentially every effort was made to ensure a 6 feet distance was kept between people at all times. Even from your physician. The other hurdle many physicians and patients faced during the pandemic was that of the requirement to quarantine. Thousands of people all over the world were required to quarantine at home to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and this presented serious challenges to daily life. This is where the use of drones has come into its own in the medical field. Drones not only enable the use of social distancing but have also been able to work around the requirement for quarantine successfully.

Drones allow for the rapid provision of distanced medical advice and care. They also make it possible to transport medical supplies to rural or remote destinations without ever having to leave the house, or hospital. Medical supplies can be transported between hospitals and labs faster than manpower alone and without social interaction. The use of drones allows patients to receive medical attention and or the supplies they need and ultimately creates a safer working environment for personnel and safer treatment options for patients, which is more important than ever during a global pandemic.

Currently, drone technology is just scratching the surface in terms of healthcare. Looking forward, it is not impossible to imagine a world where a drone takes on the role of an ambulance. As mentioned, they can deliver medical supplies and first aid kits quicker than humans to anywhere in the world, however remote. They can also be equipped with cameras enabling medical staff to see and treat emergencies they cannot reach in time-sensitive situations.

Drones are becoming more and more commonplace in today’s world, whether it is in the medical sector, for commercial use, or personal pleasure. Their technology and capabilities are advancing and evolving all the time. For a look at some of the most cutting edge drones available and how they are being used, visit https://www.drdrone.ca/

Monitoring

Monitoring and IoT have been in place for some time and are the most common way that IoT has impacted healthcare delivery. Remote patient monitoring involves IoT devices collecting data remotely from patients and transmitting it to the relevant medical professional. This means patients do not have to attend medical facilities, and physicians do not have to rely on patients to collect and report data themselves. Removing the margin for error. The benefits of this are wide-reaching without a global pandemic, but it is easy to see how the coronavirus pandemic has normalized and accelerated the use of remote monitoring.

Data commonly collected commonly includes blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, temperature, and heart rate. One of the newer metrics hoping to infiltrate the market is glucose monitoring. With millions of diabetes sufferers worldwide, the ability to continuously and effectively monitor glucose levels could truly have a revolutionary impact. Once data is received, the software will analyze the data and generate an alert to the treating physician should there be any inconsistencies or required treatment.

The pandemic has seen patient monitoring change gear and transforms from transmitting patient ‘at home’ data to the implementation of virtual hospital wards. The UK’s healthcare system, the NHS, implemented remote monitoring during the Covid pandemic to alleviate pressure on hospital beds. It worked by patients monitoring vitals such as oxygen levels at home and sharing the results via their smartphones or devices with their clinical team. It allowed patients and medical staff to monitor progress outside of the hospital setting and pick up any deterioration as soon as it began. It meant more critical care beds were available for those who needed them and allowed doctors to employ their attention where it is most required.

The UK has gone further than this and trialed the use of virtual wards when caring for patients at risk of hospital admission, irrespective of their Covid status. Patients are added to a ‘virtual ward’, and professionals from all medical and social care disciplines review the patient’s status from the data collected, without having to visit the patient to obtain it. The most appropriate member of their team can act upon the data received and where necessary visit the patient. This approach can help reduce hospital admissions and ensure the best package of care is in place for supporting patients either at home or on discharge from the hospital. Ultimately saving both time and money and improving patient care.

The UAE is rumored to be going even further than this and is in talks with a telecommunications provider to introduce the first virtual hospital to the region. While finer details are yet to be released, it does beg the question, is IOT paving the way for truly virtual healthcare?

Robotic surgery

Perhaps one of the most pioneering developments IoT has had in the medical world is robotic surgery. While the use of IoT in surgeries is not a new concept or even practice, the potential of the widespread use of IoT integrated surgeries would be game-changing.

IOT assisted surgeries can firstly reduce incision size and make surgeries less invasive and easier to recover from. Still, more importantly, they can allow surgeons to perform operations from a completely different location to their patients. The impact of this is vast. It would mean patients would no longer need to leave their local hospital to undergo the treatment they need. Patients wouldn’t have to cross the country, or even the globe, to receive potentially life-saving care. What is more, patients based in more remote locations will access the same level of healthcare and treatment as those based in bustling cities benefiting from city healthcare.

Surgeries like this are not without their challenges, but the development of 5G, high-resolution cameras, and advanced robotics has opened the door to the exciting expansion of robotic surgeries.

The downside to IoT and healthcare

The advancement IoT has brought to healthcare is astonishing, and this article is the tip of the iceberg. Healthcare is a fundamental need experienced by everybody worldwide, yet its distribution is not always equal. It is hoped that greater integration of IoT into healthcare systems worldwide will help even out healthcare distribution and those who benefit from it. It is not, however, without its challenges.

One of the biggest challenges IoT faces in healthcare is patient privacy and the security of data. As an inherent side effect of their use IoT devices will be required to obtain, store and transmit sensitive medical and personal data. If IoT is to be a mainstream player in healthcare, then patients need to trust developers and manufacturers with their most private information.

The onus is on the developers to ensure that anonymity and patient privacy is prioritized. Just as the onus is placed on them to ensure the devices are protected with the most stringent security. Hackers could access the device from anywhere in the world. Although hacking medical devices and sabotaging healthcare may seem unlikely or even extreme, whilst it is not impossible, the risk remains.

Perhaps a more likely concern faced by IoT users is that of data leaks and data mismanagement. Reports of data leaks are not uncommon, and the potential for sensitive data to be stolen and exploited remains a genuine concern that manufacturers will need to get on top of to ensure the efficacy of the IoT healthcare revolution.

What is more, it is incumbent that these devices be used, understood, and managed properly. Patients need to be aware of how their data is being used and why. Just as the professionals using them need to know how to use them to maintain their integrity and keep them from being accessed by the wrong hands. Adequate training must be given by employers to employees using IoT devices to ensure user practice is not at fault for the misuse of data. Potentially a much more likely scenario than an international attack on healthcare.

While the evolution of IoT in healthcare is not without its hurdles, it is fair to say that the role IoT is playing in the revolution of healthcare is unending, wide-reaching, and incredibly exciting for professionals and patients alike.

The post IoT And The Healthcare Revolution appeared first on IoT Business News.

Sanofi, Capgemini, Generali and Orange announce plans to create a joint venture in France to fast-track the development of concrete healthcare solutions and to make them available to the market for the benefit of patients.

The project, on a scale that is unique in Europe, will bring together leading scientific and technological expertise in France and Europe. It will benefit from both a virtual platform and a physical base located in Paris, linked to the « PariSanté Campus » initiative announced by the French President and will strengthen the international positioning of France in digital health.

The founding partners are planning an initial investment of 24 million euros in the new entity, which will be operational from June 2021* for the virtual platform and December 2021* for the physical platform.

Digital innovation and data have become essential in healthcare. France and more broadly Europe have the necessary assets for large companies to capitalise on the innovation and agility of startups in order to jointly develop digital solutions that will bring value to patients and to the healthcare ecosystem. Work will focus on key themes for one or two years at a time and may revolve around a technology, a pathology, a patient population or be related to a public health topic. The new ecosystem, will bring together the 4 founding companies and aims to federate large companies and startups at a European level, around an open-innovation approach, conducive to the emergence of disruptive new models.

The uniqueness of this project is based on three pillars:

• the founding companies will share and pool their technologies, expertise and data with selected startups, in compliance with regulations and within an ethical and responsible framework, to support the implementation of digital solutions that improve the quality, security, accessibility and productivity of healthcare.

• the multidisciplinary nature of the ecosystem will be embodied by the founding companies, the partner companies and around a hundred French and European startups, as well as other players in the healthcare, technology and insurance sectors, public and private hospitals, patient associations, regulators, schools and universities.

• the development of concrete solutions to build tomorrow’s healthcare services, from the initial idea right through to making them available to patients and/or healthcare professionals. The strength of this alliance is based on the fact that the entire ecosystem will simultaneously focus on the same commitment, which will limit the dispersion of energy and increase the chances of success and creation of value for patients and the entire sector.

Paul Hudson, CEO of Sanofi, explained:
“We believe that France, and more broadly Europe, have all the necessary assets to be among the leading global players in digital healthcare innovation. Thisproject is the cornerstone of the open ecosystem centered on digital technology and healthcare data that we want to build with our partners.”

“Our shared ambition is to bring together all the players, including startups, that will collectively invent the future of healthcare for the benefit of patients and thereby place France at the heart of European innovation in this strategic field.”

“As a global leader in digital technology, one of our major responsibilities for future generations is to put technology at the service of health. This is now a priority for Capgemini, which is proud to participate in this fine project. The founding members all believe that digital technology will provide a tremendous boost; we have the ambition to quickly achieve concrete results”, said Aiman Ezzat, CEO of Capgemini Group.

“Through this alliance, our motivation as an insurer and assistance provider is to participate in an innovative and powerful ecosystem that will help model the healthcare solutions of the future and to work on new technologies and innovative services for patients. The insurance business works on the basis of statistics drawn from a large volume of anonymised data reaching back over several decades. This can be made available to startups to fuel their search for solutions. As an historical player in the healthcare market, nationally and internationally, Generali wishes to actively contribute to the creation and running of this unique ecosystem in France and Europe, in collaboration with other leading international companies in their sector”, said Jean-Laurent Granier, CEO of Generali France and Chairman of Europ Assistance.

“We are pleased to engage in this ambitious partnership that aims to harness digital technology to improve health services for everyone. At Orange, we are convinced that digital transformation is an important source of progress and that the potential for e-health is immense. This is a major challenge for society and, as a responsible operator, we believe that we can contribute to this effort. By creating a multidisciplinary ecosystem bringing together major European groups and startups, we are providing ourselves with the means to accelerate the development of solutions for the benefit of both patients and caregivers”, said Stéphane Richard, Chairman and CEO of Orange.

A digital platform to stimulate innovation in the digital health ecosystem

This project will be hosted on an online platform centred around an institute whose main mission will be to bring together experts, institutions, schools, universities and hospitals around issues concerning the use of data and digital tools in the healthcare sector. The platform will also be the entry point for interactions between founders, partners and startups to launch hackathons, initiate competitions, and share data and expertise in compliance with regulations and ethical standards.

A unique place in Europe, located in Paris

The ecosystem will be located in the heart of Paris. It will include a creative laboratory, a Fab Lab, a Data Lab and a Living Lab in which patients and healthcare professionals will be able to develop, test, adjust and assess solutions. In addition, a specific laboratory will also be dedicated to ethical and economic issues. It will synergize the PariSanté Campus, which aims to structure and federate an international digital health sector, open to national and international partnerships.

The post Sanofi, Capgemini, Generali and Orange announce the creation of a digital ecosystem dedicated to e-health, a first in Europe appeared first on IoT Business News.

The Internet of Things (IoT) has made it easier for point-of-care centers to track and analyze sensitive medical data for their patients. But with so much confidential data transmitting to and from physicians, it’s crucial that IoT medical devices use safe communication protocols that encrypt their data.

Unfortunately, many IoT medical devices have major security vulnerabilities, which put patient data at too much risk and can make it harder for healthcare professionals to rely on them in the future. What’s more, many IoT devices rely on a limited pool of computing resources, which makes it tough to create solutions that can keep their data encrypted on wireless networks.

To better understand the security vulnerabilities that IoT medical devices face, it’s important to know exactly which products are most at risk of being hacked. In this article, we will cover the four IoT medical devices that are most susceptible to cybersecurity breaches and how to protect them.

1 – Wireless Infusion Pumps

Wireless infusion pumps, as the name may suggest, remove the need for physicians to give their patients vital medical fluids in-person. Instead, these IoT devices can talk with a patient’s electronic health records to speed up fluid infusions and cut down on healthcare costs.

However, the wireless connection protocols that these pumps use can provide low-hanging fruit for cybercriminals to pluck. Wireless infusion pumps, just like a tablet or home computer, need to be hooked up to a network to take in data from a server and send it back out to receiving devices, which makes them vulnerable to malicious software that finds its way onto a wireless network.

Protecting IoT data on the cloud can help point-of-care centers avoid threats on an unencrypted physical network. This is because cloud storage services such as Google Drive or DropBox offer a reduced number of entry points that hackers can use to gain access to a network and compromise IoT devices.

Furthermore, medical organizations can use Google Drive and Dropbox for storing files that contain protected patient information while maintaining HIPAA compliance, so long as a business associate agreement (BAA) is signed with either service.

2 – Implanted Devices

Implanted devices, like the ones that track your body’s cardiovascular functions, wirelessly transfer patient data to expedite the healthcare they receive. However, a faster rate of data transfer doesn’t mean much if it compromises a patient’s confidentiality and puts their health at risk. Hackers who remotely access implanted medical devices can wreak havoc on their functionality and subsequently endanger patients’ lives.

The biggest security issue with implantable devices lies in the way they communicate with each other. Wireless communication systems, like Medtronic’s Conexus protocol, often fail to stop data breaches because they don’t include an incident response plan. Fortunately, in early 2020 Medtronic released patches for security flaws for its devices that had been disclosed in the prior two years.

While this can offer a little assurance, the simple fact remains that these kinds of devices still freely transmit wireless information without authenticating or encrypting it, and they have no Plan B in place in the event that hackers intercept their data. It’s no surprise, then, that implantable devices can be exploited by cyber breaches such as DDoS attacks.

3 – Smartpens

Smartpens are a godsend to physicians who need to quickly access a complete snapshot of their patient’s medical background. These small IoT devices can store and quickly transmit massive amounts of sensitive data to pharmacies and point-of-care centers. It certainly sounds convenient for both patients and doctors, but much of their information is at risk of being compromised.

Smartpens, like implanted devices, expose themselves to cybercriminals with gaping backdoors that can be opened via their network communication protocols. Instead of safely accessing medical records by installing protective software, smart pens often rely on servers directly connected to the internet to store and access sensitive data. Once a hacker exploits these communication protocols, there’s not much left standing in the way between them and a server filled to the brim with confidential patient records.

4 – Vital signs monitors

The IoT makes it possible to remotely monitor a patient’s vital signs using Bluetooth technology and allows doctors to rapidly respond to changes in a patient’s vitals, but it comes at the cost of low-quality encryption methods. This is why as an additional option to relying on the cloud to store patient data, healthcare companies should investigate alternative encryption protocols that target low-power IoT devices.

One solution is for medical companies to make it a policy to always use virtual private networks (VPNs) that come with proven encryption protocols like IKEv2 or L2TP/IPSec when connecting IoT devices to the organization’s network. Using a VPN will hide the IoT devices’ IP addresses and ensure that company and patient data transmitted over the network are kept untraceable.

In any case, encryption protocols need to start compensating for vital signs monitors’ limited pool of computing resources by becoming more sophisticated. Right now, too few encryption protocols for IoT vital monitors sacrifice their quality by being low-power solutions themselves.

Conclusion

It’s crucial for IT teams and cybersecurity personnel working for healthcare companies to know what medical devices powered by IoT are most at risk of hacking and cyber-attacks. A complete understanding of how data assets become vulnerable can help medical organizations figure out how to protect them. This becomes truer than ever as more IoT medical devices are being developed and deployed to hospitals, health clinics, and even patients’ own homes.

Healthcare businesses can give their IT departments a head start in the near future by combining a monitoring view of their active IoT medical devices with the rest of their security initiatives. Right now, the solutions to gain broader visibility into each IoT device that is online are limited. However, creating strategies to discover and detect security threats that integrate with IoT medical devices can safeguard sensitive medical data and protect vulnerable patients.

The post 4 IoT Medical Devices That Are Vulnerable to Hacks appeared first on IoT Business News.

Healthcare is rapidly developing with tech novelties. The Internet of Things will bring significant changes to patient care. Doctors and healthcare providers already use it in their workflow.

Some hospitals, like Saratoga Hospital, apply IoT technologies for remote consultations, patient monitoring, and improve health outcomes.

Let’s find out how healthcare can benefit from IoT!

Why Healthcare?

IoT has an enormous potential in the healthcare field. Data provided by the sensors can help to diagnose diseases and constantly monitor health conditions. On top of that, IoT software can detect the precursors of illnesses and stop its progression in the early stages.

Looking at the market forecasts, you can see that this field is remarkably promising. By 2025 IoT healthcare will reach $534.3 billion.

Internet of Medical Things (IoMT)

The essential function of IoMT is monitoring patients’ health conditions and informing the doctor about its deterioration.

IoT in healthcare includes a number of things like wearables, medical supply chain, patient monitoring, and so on. It helps patients stay in touch with doctors and nurses. These devices take the pressure off the workers who support a lot of patients.

Five Basic Advantages of IoT in Healthcare

IoT applications and devices for healthcare are getting more common throughout the world. And of course, there are good reasons for it. So, let’s get through some of them.

Health Monitoring

IoT apps for healthcare can monitor health conditions and send an emergency signal in case of heart failure, asthma attacks, or any other accident. A recent use case by Apple is a Fall Detection System. When a person falls, Apple Watch shows an alert. If the user didn’t respond with “I’m OK”, the device calls an emergency and sends notifications to emergency contacts specified by the user.

Better Patient Experience

With IoT technologies, patients don’t have to stand in lines anymore. Modern devices provide a much more comfortable way of communicating with the doctor. Patients can be examined by doctors, not even leaving their homes.

As for emergency patients, Mt. Sinai Medical Center uses a solution called AutoBed. It allowed to reduce the waiting time of urgent patients for 50% and admit 59,000 patients with only 1,100 beds available.

Drug Management

With IoT, doctors can control the process of taking medicines. Healthcare providers can adjust the dose and monitor the effectiveness of treatment. The app automatically will send notifications to patients when they should take their drugs. Moreover, IoT simplifies the process of getting a prescription. Physicians can provide prescriptions online, so patients won’t spend their time in queues.

Healthcare Automation

The Internet of Things can automate routine administrative tasks. IoT apps process large clusters of data and output various indicators of patients’ health conditions. Also, automated data gathering excludes the possibility of human mistakes in making a diagnosis.

Challenges of IoT in Healthcare

With great power comes great responsibility. This expression can be applied to IoT because of some strict regulations in the healthcare sector. Now, I will outline them for you.

Data Security

One of the main drawbacks of IoT in healthcare is poor security. Data safety is the top concern for digital healthcare because health records are confidential information. Hackers may try to get access to sensitive data with the help of different exploits and vulnerabilities. Thus, privacy concerns require you to spend more money on security software.

Standards like GDPR and CCPA stand out among all data regulations, as they have the strictest norms and fines.

Integration of protocols

To expand the functionality of digital healthcare services, providers apply a lot of protocols. Unfortunately, there’s no unified protocol or standard that deals with every device. That’s why the development of IoT apps in healthcare is a long term process.

Besides, your app should necessarily be HIPAA and HITECH compliant. These regulations are obligatory for healthcare providers who keep patients’ EHRs.

Data Overload

Mind that IoT devices can only process the information and transmit it to a doctor. Such a vast flow of information can overload physicians, and that may lead to difficulties in decision-making during treatment.

IoT Use Cases in Healthcare

Digital medical services allow us to save time both for physicians and patients. That’s a very promising field, so no wonder that giants like Apple and Google invest funds into the IoT for healthcare.

Let’s discuss several use cases for IoT and come through some examples of existing IoT projects.

Hospital Information Management System (HIMS)

HIMS deals with medical records, keeps and manages the data about doctors and patients. The System grants access to information about appointments, hospital rooms, and more.

Here are some of the advantages of the Hospital Information Management System:

• High-security level;
• Organised search of documents;
• Drug management;
• Access to EHRs;
• Improved overall patient experience.

Some companies offer turnkey HIMS solutions with the support of various devices. Some of them are:

• Aarogya
• eVisit
• myNapier
• Insta HMS
• eHospital

Electronic Healthcare Records System (EHR)

Another use case is EHR.

Electronic health records provide access to health information instantly and securely.

EHR is meant to store, modify, and share information among physicians and their business associates for improving treatment results.

This system is beneficial to doctors because of real-time information on tests and patient’s health conditions. As for the patients, they may contact doctors and get a consultation in no time.

However, a number of hospitals are still wondering how to build an EHR system. And the main issue throughout the development process is HIPAA compliance. So, be sure to hire a team of developers that know how to meet every needed requirement.

Mobile Healthcare

These solutions are also called mHealth apps. Usually, their purpose is to provide consultations online, arranging offline consultations, and so on. According to IQVIA, the App Store and Google Play contain 320,000 mHealth apps.

However, mobile healthcare apps can be used for treatment with the help of IoT. Apps, together with wearables, collect the data about physical activity and health conditions. So, it’s possible to develop IoT apps that can transfer healthcare data to smartphones.

Here are some types of mHealth apps:

• EHRs
• Meditation apps
• Fitness apps
• Sleep tracking apps
• Medical assets monitoring

Wrapping up

On the whole, I’d like to say that IoT technologies can have a significant positive impact on healthcare in the near future. Improved patient experience and time saving are supreme advantages of this approach. The last thing to remember is hiring a reliable and dedicated team of developers that can meet all of the privacy regulations.

The post How to Apply IoT in Healthcare: Best Approaches and Use Cases appeared first on IoT Business News.

The combination of big data provided through cloud applications and IoT devices has an almost limitless potential, and one of the industries that stands to gain the most from it is healthcare. In early December, this fact was realized in the annual IoT In Healthcare Report; Yahoo! Finance analysis highlighted the amount of money being driven into data-driven diagnostics through IoT devices, which the report estimates will help to grow the IoT healthcare market to $200bn. Like with so many other industries, a tipping point has been reached and the combination of technologies will now revolutionize healthcare.

Unifying systems

A primary benefit of combining cloud data and IoT for medical applications is the way it can be use to unify systems. Currently, medical systems can be disconnected and data disparate. A study conducted by the MIT School of Management noted this in detail, finding that significant barriers were placed between medical institutions as a result of poor data sharing protocols. The result is reduced efficiency and, in some cases, poorer patient outcomes. Moving to an integrated system, where bespoke medical devices can access data from the cloud that is guaranteed as to its quality standards, will benefit healthcare businesses significantly. American integrated systems experts CoreTech.us espouse the benefits of this approach in any working environment; simply having a situation without barriers, where data can be shared and managed effectively, will improve the business.

Using data for good

Big data is not a new arrival in medicine. Consultants McKinsey state that it has been used for years to improve diagnoses and map disease trends across the globe. By having big data as a continuous stream on the cloud, and then connecting this to a full range of IoT enabled devices, these effects can be amplified. A great example is in the wearables industry. The likes of Fitbit and FDA approved glucose monitors take anonymous data and use that to influence future medical policy and research. This combination of big data with the connected nature of devices to provide a constant and accurate stream of medical information will only improve future patient outcomes.

Cutting-edge architecture

Behind the ready-for-the-public face of this technological combination is ever improving architecture. Tech blog Techerati reported in November ‘19 that edge computing is being rapidly deployed in some countries to improve healthcare even further. By redirecting security away from the clinic and towards the background work of their integrated systems, this will provide to be another incremental but powerful increase in efficiency for healthcare businesses; ultimately, putting IoT and the cloud at the center of the clinical care.

The internet of things has created devices that allow people to improve their day-to-day medical outlook. When combined with plentiful data from the cloud, and combined into an integrated system, constant monitoring and correction of issues will improve patient outcomes. As a positive knock on effect, data for research will be plentiful, and ultimately lead to new breakthroughs in medical science.

The post Cloud Data And IoT Have Taken Another Step In Revolutionizing Healthcare appeared first on IoT Business News.

Medicine has advanced by leaps and bounds in just the past few decades. Today, we are on the brink of discovering cures for some of the world’s deadliest diseases, including AIDS and various cancers, and it is thanks in large part to the innovative technology developed by biomedical engineers.

Without tools and devices, medicine would hardly be better than it was in the Stone Age. Modern biomedical engineers have brought us electrocardiograms, pacemakers, ultrasound machines, CT scanners, prosthetics, and more. Considering the lightning speed of medical device development, it shouldn’t be long before we eliminate human error and rely entirely on machines for diagnosis and treatment.

Indeed, the Internet of Things is doing much to bring the concept of robot doctors to fruition. By training more professionals in the field of biomedical engineering online, we might be able to integrate the following technologies into medical centers around the world.

IoT in Hospitals and Ambulances

For years, health care providers have clamored for more connected health data — and it’s finally here. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, hospitals and care facilities are being forced into the future, and many are choosing to adopt emerging and established IoT tech. In fact, the number of IoT devices for medical use is becoming so expansive, that some experts have begun cataloguing them under a separate title, the Internet of Medical Things. Some available IoMT solutions include:

• Smart beds. Connected beds tell hospital operators where in the facility the beds are located as well as when they are occupied or free. This has helped reduce ER wait times in equipped hospitals by as much as four hours.
• Smart inventory. Beds aren’t the only health care assets being tracked; with IoT tech, hospitals can better manage medical supplies, including prescription medications.
• Smart health data. Patients equipped with IoT devices can provide more accurate health data. As long as patients are properly trained to use health trackers correctly, they can keep doctors informed of patient status outside the hospital.
• Patient badges. Real-time location systems (RTLS) track patients’ status and locations, informing loved ones so clinicians don’t have to.
• Smart equipment monitors. Equipment fails, but knowing when and how it will fail is critical to preventing it during a critical moment. Hardware/software solutions that monitor equipment health are important, too.

Ambulances, too, can be fitted with valuable IoT tech. Using connected technology, first responders can communicate more effectively with clinicians at hospitals, who can use health data collected in ambulances to make quick decisions regarding treatment. In cases of heart attack and stroke — which are some of the most common killers in the developed world and a common cause for calling an ambulance — the minutes shaved off by IoT communication could save millions of lives.

Robotics

Robots are moving into health care in several ways. For example, robots could easily replace workers in repetitive, labor-intensive jobs in medical research labs or pharmacies, such as vial assay analysis, test tube movements, prescription filling, packaging, and transporting. However, these types of robots are hardly doctors.

Biomedical engineers in China have developed a robot designed to help doctors provide better diagnoses and thus begin proper treatment sooner. Named Xiao Yi, the robot scored better than most humans on China’s National Medical Licensing Examination, proving it has the knowledge to accurately provide health advice. Experts believe that robots like Xiao Yi could replace doctors in the diagnostic phase, especially in low-risk environments, like doctor’s offices. Yet, Xiao Yi isn’t perfect; not only is the robot slow and reliant on probabilities and programmed reasoning processes, but it cannot act in times of crisis. More brainpower earned through studying biomedical engineering online is necessary to apply more advanced robotics to medicine.

Robot doctors are just around the corner — but it could be a long leg to that corner. There are plenty of obstacles preventing hospitals from adopting the medical advancements in our grasp. For example, most health care facilities are collecting inordinate amounts of data from nearly every operation, from business administration to radiology, but often that data isn’t standardized, which means it can’t be used to provide a comprehensive picture of the organization’s ecosystem. Further, as is true of all cutting-edge medical tech, these devices are incredibly expensive; despite how much time and money (not to mention human life) is saved by the tech, if hospitals cannot afford it, it is relatively useless.

The post The Imminent Invention of Robot Doctors appeared first on IoT Business News.

The internet is lauded for its uncanny efficiency in connecting humans to one another and to large amounts of data. Eventually all of our devices — from fridges to cars to phones to the chips embedded in our skin — will be online and connected to one another. The IoT is poised to make all these connections happen.

Many devices originally created to work with the IoT were designed to become a part of smart homes, which were marketed largely to Gen Xers and baby boomers intending to age-in-place. Home automation is a reality now and it shows no sign of slowing down with new innovations constantly coming out on the market. Beyond smart and age-in-place homes, IoT devices are breaking away from traditional platforms and into the health care, criminal justice, and education sectors. Here are a few examples of what that may look like over the next decade.

Health Care

As technology advances, nurses’ duties change and expand while some of the more monotonous tasks are eliminated. This allows nurses to focus more on their patients’ well-being. The scope of nurses’ responsibilities is likely to transform dramatically as wearable devices like blood sugar monitors and brain-computer interfaces cut down on nurses’ time investment with each individual patient.

At the same time, the digitization of patient data brings an added layer of complication in terms of security. Hospitals are so well-known for their poor security and laissez-faire attitude about software upgrades, that many hackers on the dark web have declared them off-limits. But if the 2016 doping scandal leaks taught us anything, it’s that a hacker’s code of ethics are subjective. Hospitals have been hit hard by hackers in the past, and they will surely be hit again in the future if they do not take proper security precautions. Medical offices will need to hire data analysts and network specialists to ensure that sensitive patient data remains in the right hands and is efficiently streamlined into existing electronic health records.

IoT presents good news for patients, too. Both Google and Apple have been working on smart contact lenses that can measure glucose levels in tears. In the future this could allow diabetics to avoid getting poked with needles for those painful blood tests. Types of IoT technology include remote monitoring of patient, telemedicine via smartphone messaging, online chat or video conferencing, and location tracking of dementia patients and people who fall. IoT can also help patients modify certain behaviors such as exercise, eating habits and addiction management. Even more exciting, a prototype of a sticker skin-sensor has been recently created by a computer science team at the University of Washington in Seattle. A simple wireless sensor could remotely monitor vital signs such as temperature, sweat, cardiac activity, and more.

Criminal Justice

The increasing number of public surveillance cameras is no secret, but data is starting to be used to predict high-risk locations and victimization risk. Predictive policing technology, along with citizen and official city-led police monitoring, should in theory be able to be utilized effectively. Short-term illegal activity can be predicted in certain areas based on the data. As a result, law enforcement will have an increased presence in the area to monitor potential crime.

However, this data needs to be carefully monitored and analyzed by trained professional data analysts and scientists.

Earlier this year, police used a man’s pacemaker data as a key piece of evidence to charge him with burning his house down and trying to commit insurance fraud. Cops looked at his heart rate, pace demand, and cardiac rhythms before, during and after fire. The data didn’t match the story he told about timing of the incident.

However, as criminal investigators seek to use data as evidence, they must have a balancing act between justice and privacy, otherwise lawsuits are waiting to happen.

Education

Education-related apps have joined the fray to become another field poised to embrace IoT technology. Some of the big leaps are happening at the college level.

For example, many college football stadiums use sensors connected to Wi-Fi to monitor things like temperature, leaky faucets, and even noise levels within the stadium. These data-driven observations then allow them to work on things like tracking parking availability and concession/restroom wait times. The final magnificent step is to make all of that useful information available to mobile phone users in the stadium, giving them more time at the game and less waiting in lines.

Another application includes campus washing machines texting students when their clothes are ready to be taken out. In collegiate sports, coaches and trainers can track information of their athletes weight and body fat, as well as air quality to optimize training schedules. The possibilities are endless.

Someday, every device you own and every object you can fathom will be connected to the internet. It could be through your phone, wearables, and everyday household items. IoT will connect us in ways that we don’t even know yet. The industries above will already be ahead of the curve.

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Nokia has announced plans to acquire Withings S.A., a pioneer and leader in the connected health revolution with a family of award-winning digital health products and services to help people all over the world lead healthier, happier and more productive lives. Withings will be part of our Nokia Technologies business.

“We have said consistently that digital health was an area of strategic interest to Nokia, and we are now taking concrete action to tap the opportunity in this large and important market,” said Rajeev Suri, president & CEO of Nokia.

“With this acquisition, Nokia is strengthening its position in the Internet of Things in a way that leverages the power of our trusted brand, fits with our company purpose of expanding the human possibilities of the connected world, and puts us at the heart of a very large addressable market where we can make a meaningful difference in peoples’ lives.”

World Health Organization figures show cardiovascular disease as today’s number one cause of death, with more than a billion adults around the world living with uncontrolled hypertension. Diabetes now affects more than one in twelve adults worldwide, a four-fold increase since 1980. Healthcare is expected to be one of the largest vertical markets in the Internet of Things, with analysts forecasting that mobile health, with a CAGR of 37%, will be the fastest growing health care segment from 2015-2020.

“Withings shares our vision for the future of digital health and their products are smart, well designed and already helping people live healthier lives,” said Ramzi Haidamus, president of Nokia Technologies. “Combining their award-winning products and talented people with the world-class expertise and innovation of Nokia Technologies uniquely positions us to lead the next wave of innovation in digital health.”

The combination of innovative products from Withings and the Digital Health business will also ensure the ongoing renewal of Nokia Technologies’ world class IPR portfolio.

Withings was founded by Chairman Eric Carreel and CEO Cedric Hutchings in 2008 and is headquartered in France, with approximately 200 employees across its locations in Paris, France, Cambridge, US and Hong Kong. Withings’ portfolio of regulated and unregulated products includes activity trackers, weighing scales, thermometers, blood pressure monitors, home and baby monitors and more, and is built on a sophisticated digital health platform, providing insights to empower people to make smarter decisions about the health and wellbeing of themselves and their families. Withings’ own products are complemented by an ecosystem of more than a hundred compatible apps.

“Since we started Withings, our passion has been in empowering people to track their lifestyle and improve their health and wellbeing,” said Cédric Hutchings, CEO of Withings. “We’re excited to join Nokia to help bring our vision of connected health to more people around the world.”

The Nokia brand continues to be recognized, valued and trusted by consumers, built on a heritage of beautifully designed, innovative and reliable technology in the service of people around the world to help real human needs.

The planned transaction values Withings at EUR 170 million and would be settled in cash and is expected to close in early Q3, 2016 subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

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The agreement draws on the two companies’ health sector expertise to deliver Digital Hospital solutions worldwide, with particular emphasis on the Latin America market.

Telefónica Business Solutions, a major provider of wide ranging integrated communication solutions for the B2B market, and Indra, a market leader in information and integrated systems for customers around the world, have signed a global agreement to rollout major integrated digital health projects in hospitals and the healthcare field.

The partnership, which will initially last two years, has been signed by Juan Carlos López Vives, CEO of Telefónica Business Solutions, Cristina Ruiz, Indra Digital’s General Director of Information Technology and Antonio Martos, Global Director of Health of Indra. Its aim is to bring together the health sector experience of both companies to provide the global market with digital hospital solutions. The two companies will jointly provide their IT capabilities and eHealth solutions with particular focus in Latin America.

The digitisation and modernisation of healthcare networks in both the public and private sectors is one of the main areas of transformation faced by healthcare providers throughout the world. The healthcare industry is moving towards a model which guarantees their sustainability from traditional processes; based on more collaborative and connected systems, with infrastructures which allow greater internal efficiency and provide patients and users with greater accessibility to health services.

The concept of the hospital is no longer limited to a physical building. Digital transformation goes beyond walls, enabling new models of the doctor-patient relationships based on remote monitoring and virtual visits, thereby extending care to the home and democratising access to health – of particular value in regions such as Latin America.

Since May 2012 the two companies have collaborated on a monitoring service for chronic patients, a Telefónica-led initiative, with the following ongoing important projects:

• iCOR Project, for remote monitoring of patients with heart failure at the Hospital del Mar in Barcelona
• Telemác Project, for monitoring of patients with COPD, diabetes and hypertension at the Catalan Health Institute
• Valcronic Program, to improve the care of chronic patients in the Valencian Community
• Hogar Digital Asistencial (Digital Home Care), a platform for the care of patients with chronic conditions run by the Regional Government of Galicia

In this way, Indra and Telefónica aim to extend their scheme to other areas and markets.

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Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today launched a bold initiative aimed at directing the resources and innovation of the global technology industry toward empowering individuals to better manage their own health and wellness.

The Samsung Digital Health Initiative is based on open hardware and software platforms that will accelerate the development of advanced sensors, algorithms, and data collection and analysis.

At an event at San Francisco’s SFJAZZ Center today, Samsung’s Strategy and Innovation Center (SSIC) team demonstrated its open platform in a wearable wristband form factor, showing how devices based on this reference-design “blueprint” could be used to track measurements such as heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure. The company also demonstrated its open software architecture and how it could be used to collect data from a variety of sources, aggregate it and display it in a format allowing consumers to better understand what is taking place within their bodies.

The open platforms, combined with agreements like the one recently announced by Samsung and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) to validate new technologies for personal health and wellness, are designed to help entrepreneurs bring innovative products to market more quickly.

“Samsung’s Digital Health Initiative provides an exciting opportunity for the brightest minds in the technology world to come together to develop the products that will, for the first time, put individuals in the driver’s seat in understanding their own health and wellness,” said Young Sohn, president and chief strategy officer, Device Solutions, Samsung Electronics.

“At a time when healthcare spending is at record levels and when the number of people over the age of 60 worldwide is expected to exceed more than 1.2 billion by 2025, digital health is an incredibly important area for innovation. We believe this initiative is an essential first step and we invite developers and partners across the globe to join us in creating the technologies of the future that will help make people’s lives healthier.”

Technology Highlights

• Open Hardware Platform: Samsung’s Simband is an open hardware reference design for wearable technology, capable of integrating the most advanced sensing technologies in the world. Simband is being designed in a modular way, allowing for innovation in areas like battery life, form factor and noninvasive sensor technology. Innovators are invited to use the reference platform to create and contribute their own advanced sensors, algorithms and other technologies. Simband is a reference design Samsung and third-parties will use to develop products. It will not be sold commercially. This approach is intended to lead to the creation of ecosystems for hardware and algorithms that will enable new technology to be easily incorporated into finished products.
• Open Software Architecture: The Samsung Architecture for Multimodal Interactions (SAMI) will be a cloud-based open software platform capable of bringing together diverse data from a variety of sources for analysis. It will allow devices and sensors to securely store data in the cloud regardless of the source’s format or structure. SAMI’s job is to make more information available, to break open information silos and give applications and services access to large amounts of data to provide better insights. Under Samsung’s approach, SAMI will allow data to be controlled by the individual generating it and not by third-parties, so that personal health data can be better protected.

The combination of Simband-designed sensor technologies and algorithms and SAMI-based software will take individual understanding of the body to a new level – for the first time giving voice to a deeper understanding of personal health and wellness. In addition, through the development of new sensing technologies and software, it’s possible that entirely new and previously unimagined insights into health and wellness could be generated.

Dr. Michael Blum, associate vice chancellor for informatics at UCSF, said:

“Our bodies have always had something to say but now, with advanced sensors, algorithms and software, we will finally be able to tune into what the body is telling us.”

“Validation of these technologies will improve the quality of data collected and help advance the ability to bring new products to market quickly. UCSF is pleased to play an important role in this effort to focus increased technology resources on digital health.”

To support its Digital Health Initiative, Samsung today also announced the Samsung Digital Health Challenge, a $50 million investment fund dedicated to innovative start-ups and technologies in the digital health area. The goal of the fund is to stimulate creative new approaches to digital health and Samsung’s open platforms.

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