As a beacon of transformation, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is making waves in various sectors, with healthcare standing at the forefront of this digital revolution. With an expected market value of over $135 billion by 2025, the IIoT is set to revolutionise the healthcare industry, ushering in a new era of reduced medical errors, enhanced patient care and overall improved healthcare outcomes.
With recent data suggesting that over 237 million medical and healthcare errors are made in the UK, and the resulting cost being over £98 million, it is clear that healthcare organisations require a solution to remedy this issue. Not only does this data demonstrate that healthcare providers are facing unnecessary costs, it also suggests that patients are not receiving adequate help in a number of cases. Many healthcare providers are investing in technologies to help with improved patient outcomes, reduced human error and overall efficiency, one of these technologies is the industrial internet of things.
Understanding IIoT in the healthcare industry
The IIoT represents the interconnection of industrial devices through the internet, enabling them to collect, exchange and analyse data in real-time. This flow of critical data can be analysed and integrated to enable fast, informed decisions, flexible manufacturing, optimised workflows and more.
IIoT is heavily dependent on sensors, high-bandwidth wireless data transmission, and applications to support communication, analysis, and visualisation. The driving force behind IIoT is the desire to leverage the power of smart, interconnected devices to enhance operational efficiency and productivity. It should come as no surprise that IIoT is rapidly becoming an invaluable tool in the healthcare industry. So how does IIoT address the issues faced by healthcare providers?
Providing constant monitoring of patient’s conditions
IIoT’s impact in the healthcare sector is most visible in the realm of constant patient monitoring. Wearables such as heart monitors, glucose monitors, EKG monitors and sleep study tools are enabling the seamless tracking of patients’ health conditions. These devices alert both patients and healthcare professionals when values deviate from normal indicating something is wrong. An example of an IIoT powered device is the Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitor. This system wirelessly transmits glucose readings from the user’s interstitial fluid to a bluetooth-enabled smart device facilitating real time glucose tracking. By allowing users and healthcare professionals to track health conditions continuously, these devices enable early detection of potential health issues and inform more timely and appropriate medical interventions.
Configuring emergency alerts for rapid responses
The use of IIoT allows healthcare professionals and care teams to gather and connect a large amount of data points regarding the health status of patients from wearables like activity, temperature, perspiration, sleep and heart-rate. As a result, the sensors in these wearables can send out real-time alerts to caregivers and healthcare professionals when certain triggers are set off, such as heart rate, breathing or falls. Not only will this improve the efficiency of patient care, it also allows patients to remain at home and professionals can receive patient information remotely. This functionality is crucial for the elderly, disabled, and those with chronic conditions, facilitating rapid intervention and potentially saving lives.
Building patient trust
The implementation of IIoT devices into healthcare organisations allows firms to continue to push towards a patient-centric model of operations and this ultimately results in building patient trust. This trust is fostered through seamless and transparent sharing of critical patient information, such as blood pressure, glucose levels and imaging. IIoT devices enable patients to have access to their own health data, which can improve their understanding of their health conditions whilst also knowing their healthcare professionals can intervene at a moment’s notice should they need to. The transparency of data relating to their health conditions and knowing their designated healthcare providers have access to this to help foster a deeper sense of trust in healthcare providers and the overall healthcare system.
Increasing hospital efficiency and accuracy of patient records
IIoT technologies greatly reduce the probability of medical errors by minimising manual data entry, enabling easier patient identity verification, and facilitating effective tracking of patient information and treatment. For instance, wireless infusion pumps, such as the Baxter Smart IV Pump, are integrated with a patient’s electronic medical records, transmitting data about treatment and issues for automated documentation. This not only improves the accuracy of patient data but also saves valuable time for healthcare providers.
The potential of IIoT in healthcare is vast, and as technology continues to evolve, the possibilities are limitless. With leading tech companies such as Microsoft and Apple pushing the boundaries of IIoT in healthcare, the future holds an exciting vision of enhanced patient care, improved healthcare outcomes, and a more efficient healthcare system. The IIoT revolution in healthcare is just beginning, and its impact will be felt for many years to come.
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