Internet of Things(IoT) in HealthCare: 6 Types of Advantages and Challenges

Introduction

 

With the continuous awareness and consciousness in people about their health, there is a lot of demand for remote facilities where people can use novel approaches and fully internet-connected healthcare ecosystems. 

 

Various healthcare ecosystems come up with the intent of providing better quality care and reduction in healthcare expenditure, under the healthcare ecosystem many applications of internet of things(IoT) come including remote monitoring, personal healthcare, smart sensors, medical device integration, pharmaceutical industry, healthcare insurance, RTHS, smart pills, etc.

 

The complete healthcare set has enough potential to keep patients safe and healthy and enhance physicians’ services. Healthcare not only supports patient-doctor engagement but also to give satisfaction to patients as they can spend more time interacting with their doctors. 

 

We are well known for the fact that any technology can’t endure more time without its obstacles and hence the same case is with healthcare IoT. There are many challenges in managing numerous internet-connected devices and the massive amount of data generated from these devices.

 

Also, data security while exchanging data from one device to another. In the scope of this blog, topics to be covered are;

 

1. IoT in healthcare

2. Advantages of IoT in healthcare

3. Challenges of IoT in healthcare

4. Conclusion

 

 

IoT in healthcare

 

In earlier times, patients-doctor interactions are limited to fewer visits to hospitals, telecommunication or text communication, there is no method or procedure by which hospitals can monitor patients’ health conditions constantly and make preferences accordingly. 

 

This is the time when the internet of things(IoT) comes up with impactful applications. It enables medical devices for remote monitoring, leverages the potential to hold patients safe and healthy. With the help of heathcare data analytics and IoT devices, doctors or physicians can give recommendations for treatment and to deliver excellently care. 

 

As patient-doctor interactions became easier and effective, patients have gained much engagement and satisfaction with their medical care and attention. Furthermore, it has reduced the duration of hospital stay and prevents re-admitting.

 

IoT shows a major effect in reducing medical costs and open the paths for better medical treatments. It reforms the complete healthcare industry by implementing the scope of devices and people interactions in addressing health solutions. 

---

 

A scenario of healthcare ecosystem under IoT devices

---

IoT has numerous applications in healthcare for patients, families, physicians, hospitals and insurance companies, etc. additionally, as medical devices generate large sets of data, medical data can be used for research purposes as well, this data is collected for statistical study to support medical research. Let’s discuss each case in detail:

 

(Recommended blog: Top IoT examples) 

 

 

Advantages of IoT in Healthcare

 

The internet-connected health devices and data incorporation bring many benefits in the healthcare ecosystem:

 

1. Cost savings:

 

It is most advantageous in IoT that independent systems will require less cost while managing and employing for the long run, it is more beneficial for patients to have less cost in fewer visits to hospitals and quickened treatments.

 

2. Approachability:

 

As all the health devices are interconnected via the internet and data can easily be transferred to other devices, so doctors have access to view all the necessary data to check the real-time condition of patients.

      

3. Technology Equipped Environment:

 

In prior time, when you visit a hospital and stand in a queue for your treatment, it was time-consuming and unworthy, but nowadays there are smart hospitals which are fully equipped with advanced technologies that prevent you from hospital visits unnecessary, collecting and analyzing health data deeply, etc.

 

The IoT in healthcare is reflecting advanced tech-applications and giving space for amazing long-term reformed innovations.

---

Advantages of Internet of Things(IoT) in healthcare

---

4. Proactive and Dynamic Treatment:

 

Endless health monitoring of patients reveals the space for implementing proactive and dynamic medical treatment timely. It not only ensures smooth healthcare operations but also reduces errors and waste costs in treatments.

  

5. Improvement in Treatment:

 

It enables doctors to make decisions based on real-time evidence or the current situation of patients, this gives transparency and exact information in patients’ treatment.

 

6. Quicker Detection of Disease: 

 

​​​​​​​As the patients’ conditions are monitoring continuously and real-time diagnostic data is accessible, this helps in recognizing ailments at early stages or even before the disease evolves based on symptoms.   

 

(Also check: AI applications in healthcare)

 

 

Challenges of IoT in Healthcare

 

Internet of things(IoT) shows a vital elevation in the healthcare domain, it seems to be an innovative and highly efficient technology. Security and integrity of data became big challenges for various services and applications.

 

There are many technical difficulties and compliance issues including:

 

1. Drug and Equipment Management:

 

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​To manage drugs, medicines and medical apparatus are quite difficult, it is a major challenge in the healthcare industry to maintain and utilize efficiently a low cost through linked health devices.

 

2. Data Privacy:

 

​​​​​​​Any advanced system can be hacked, so data privacy is a big concern. Security and integrity should be handled precisely, lots of attention and spendings are needed to focus and improve this issue.

 

There are huge chances that dishonest intruders can access data through a centralized system and use that for some cruel intentions. As discussing data privacy, learn about methods to protect data, differential privacy.

 

3. Undeveloped Initiatives:

 

​​​​​​​Many IoT medical devices are underdeveloped, the devices which are designed for chronic disease or other problems need more time to grow and build, this technical issue must be solved quickly in order to initiate in providing regular improved results. 

 

4. Data Storage Issue:

 

​​​​​​​Internet connected-devices generate real-time data at every minute on large scale continuously, so a large space of memory gets occupied in its storage and still huge data repositories are required that can hold all these volumes of data for indefinite terms.

 

(Related blog: Top Healthcare Technologies)

 

5. Global Healthcare Regulations:

 

​​​​​​​Only global healthcare regulatory bodies allow IoT medical devices for the execution of their functions and innovations, it takes time in approving IoT workflow, medical establishments should strictly follow the guidelines issued by the International health administrations, this confines possible functions up to some extent.

 

6. Troubles with Constant Updates:

 

​​​​​​​There are so many hardware solutions along with software solutions for controlling and powering data, this software needs to be updated regularly for their smooth functioning and to remain at its latest version in order to get regular updates.    

 

(Must check: Big Data in Healthcare)

 

 

Conclusion

 

Hopefully, this blog gave you a brief insight into IoT medical devices and its implications around the healthcare ecosystem. Well known for the fact that the internet of things(IoT) has started a hub of possibilities in the medical domain.

 

(Most recommended: How is IoT influencing Human Body?)

 

When get connected with the internet, medical devices can accumulate large amounts of data, give an insight into symptoms and trends about diseases, facilitate remote care and give patients more authority over their lives and treatments.