By Kelley Sullivan, Health IT Blogger, DICOM Grid
Twitter: @DICOMGrid
The Internet of Things, the idea that everything will someday be totally connected, is no longer a Jetson’s era fantasy. It’s becoming closer to a reality in healthcare.
We’ve discussed IoT in healthcare and what its impact could be, but what would that look like? How can healthcare be ready for this total connectivity? Most importantly, how will IoT be able to increase the efficiency of the system benefiting both practitioner and patient alike?
Increased Efficiency
Forbes discusses how IoT will be able to increase efficiency in healthcare in multiple ways. As the capabilities of devices enhance, issues can be solved remotely as well as more effectively. Further, when there are issues with devices or supplies need to be refilled, the devices will be able to sound the alarm, and the issue can be dealt with proactively. What this comes down to is that machines will be better able to regulate themselves, and this data can then continue to be used to increase efficiency of processes. Companies with connected devices are already seeing results as to how cost-effective this can be.
Effective Patient Data
How can connected devices support patients? Through data. If we think of Wearables as part of personal IoT, and the health data that Wearables can provide, we know how the data alone can benefit patients.There are many other devices that can be implemented to employ beneficial data. For example, some hospitals have begun to use smart beds, alerting nurses when patients are trying to get up, or the bed itself can help patients get up using varying pressure and support. Devices can even help patients once they leave the hospital like smart pill bottles that know when a prescription needs to be refilled or a patient hasn’t take their medicine.
Utilizing Connectivity
Greater connectivity will become apparent with these new devices, but how can these technologies be incorporated into everyday practices? Take for example Google Glass. Pierre Theodore, MD talks about the possibilities that Google Glass can provide for the doctor as opposed to the consumer. As a doctor you could use a device like Google Glass, or even simply a mobile device, to aid your practice with quick access to patient information, scheduling, and all other data connected to the cloud. This is just one way that the increased connectivity that IoT allows can be utilized.
While achieving total connectivity will require changes to the system, we are beginning to see a shift already, and the privacy and security of this data must also be prioritized. But it is clear that once devices are fully connected in the cloud, collecting data from sensors and intelligent devices, improvements can be made to healthcare. Efficiency will be increased, costs will be driven down, practitioners will have an easier time doing their job and in the end, patients will have a more valuable healthcare experience. How do you see IoT affecting healthcare?
About the Author: Kelley Sullivan currently resides in the Boston area and is a health IT blogger at DICOM Grid. She covers trend pieces spanning medical imaging, wearables, security, and interoperability. This article was originally published on DICOM Grid and is republished here with permission.