Internet of Medical Things: benefits and applications of this vibrant area of innovation in the field of medical science are discussed in this article.
Internet o Things (IoT) is a modern field of innovation that supports internet assisted solicitation devices and machines. Invention of BioSensors in the last decade has really helped the field of IoMT.
First IoT enabled machine was introduced in 1982 with the purpose to sell-out the cold drinks and the term IoT was coined in 1999 by Procter and Gamble organization.
The IoT is the structure of interrelated devices and operations compiled with all the network elements such as; software, hardware, connectivity of the network and any other required electronic and computer means that ultimately makes them responsive by supporting in data exchange and complication.
In commercial solicitations, serving the medical and healthcare sectors, transportation facilities are the major ones. A well-proven application of IoT is the healthcare and medical sectors, where it is mainly known as Internet of Medical Things (IoMT).
1. Benefits of IoMT to Patients
IOMT provides a large number of benefits in the filed of medical science to both the patients and healthcare providers. a few are discussed below:
1.1 Personalized and Precision Diagnoses:
Many IOMT devices are designed to track a patent’s vital signs in detail and depth to a degree that would not be possible during a brief office visit.
For Example, with a month’s worth of blood pressure or pulse rate readings, a doctor can more accurately diagnose a condition and create a more personalized and effective treatment plan.
1.2 Remote Medical Treatment:
A very good benefit of IOMT is priving of medical advice and treatment to the remote patents specially in the urban areas.
IoMT devices are used to capture data from anywhere as such patients home then transmit that information securely to the physician, all without requiring a visit to the office.
1.3 Patient empowerment
IoMT devices and wearable such as smart watches and Apple Health let patients take control of their vitals, giving them information they would otherwise have to visit a doctor to get.
Rather than waiting for an annual checkup, patients can now keep tabs on their health in real-time.
2. Benefits of IoMT to Doctors:
Akin to usability of IoMT for patients, IoMT is also useful and beneficial for doctors, physicians and healthcare providers. A few are discussed below:
2.1 Medical Cost Control
With the cost of medical care ballooning in recent years, providers are embracing cost-effective healthcare technologies.
In 2015, Goldman Sachs Predicted the savings from IOMT technologies, namely remote patient monitoring would total about $305 billion.
2.2 Improved patient monitoring
Chronically and seriously ill patients need consistent and more intensive monitoring, sometimes requiring around the clock care.
IoMT devices allow physicians to monitor health status of their patients without having to rely on humans caregivers, alerting them instantly if something goes awry.
2.3 Upgraded operations
IoMT improves hospitals operations by giving providers and administrations easier, centralized control over their facilities.
IoMT devices can provide them with more visibility into their environment and provide physician with new technologies like robotics surgical aids and high-resolution digital imaging system.
3. Amazing IoMT Devices
IOMT devices span a wide range of categories including:
3.1 Wearables
There are mart devices for the patients that include Fitbit and other fitness monitors, activity trackers and Apple Watches, among others.
There are also clinical-level products that are send under the guidance of a clinician, including devices designed to manage pain, improve physical performance and resolve other health issues.
3.2 Remote Patient Monitoring Devices
Systems that help manage chronic diseases, usually placed in the homes of patents who are undergoing long-term care.
There are wearable devices that also allow a patient, often a senior, to quickly call for help to a care provider in an emergency.
3.3 Smart pills
An emerging category of devices that can be swallowed by a patient, wirelessly transmitting data about a patient’s internals to medical providers. Internet of Medical Things: Benefits and Applications are discussed here.
3.4 Point-of-care devices and kiosks
IoT enabled mobile devices, ranging from ultrasound machines to blood glucose meters that can obtain diagnostic information and other health data whether they are in a doctor’s office or in the field without the need for a fully laboratory.
3.5 In-Hospital Monitors
Similar to point-of-care devices, except that they can be managed remotely, without the need for an expert care provider on-site. Internet of Medical Things: Benefits and Applications are worth reading.
A large segment of devices, including MRI machines, used to track hospital assets, monitor patient flow, track inventory and manage other hospital resources.
4. Future Challenges in IoMT
Implementing IoMT is not without its share of challenges, the biggest being security and privacy. Following are key challenges the need to be addressed in the near future:
- Medical data is highly regulated, most notably by the Health Insurance Probability and accountability ACT (HIPAA) and providers have a heavy burden to prevent its compromise.
- Introducing IOMT devices into the environment invites some level of risk, largely due to the copious amount of additional data that flows between patents and providers.
- Interoperability and standards are other hurdles that IoMT vendors face. In an ideal world, healthcare IOT equipment from one vendor would work seamlessly with seamlessly with another infrastructure, but that has not been the case and uniform standards have been elusive.
- While some certification processes have emerged the industry is still a long way from having universal interoperability.
- Another ongoing issue and perhaps the most difficult to resolve is the inability to update IoMT devices.
- While IoMT devices are state of the art when they are released, once a device is in the field, it can be difficult to upgrade or upgrade with new features.
- Consumers are unlikely to upgrade their wearable devices or connected devices every year and hospitals are generally slow to roll out expensive new equipment, resulting in a patchwork of products with different capabilities across the market.
- Upgrades become even more of a challenge with implantable devices, such as pacemakers that are surgically embedded.
Internet of Medical Things: Benefits and Applications are just a beginning of new advancements and innovations in medical era. IIoT is another application of IoT.
