Increased connectivity fuels growth of home healthcare, smart hospitals

Smart sensors and IoMT open up the possibility of remote or home healthcare becoming mainstream in the future.

Advancements in sensor technology and the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) are hastening the development of a fully connected healthcare industry, allowing patients easy access to medical care even without leaving the comforts of home.

Known in the industry as remote or home healthcare, the trend is bolstered by innovations in smart devices such as wearables and e-skin sensors, which help in the management of chronic diseases. Improvements in the size, sensitivity, selectivity and communications capability of these sensors are a huge boost to real-time remote monitoring. As demand for home patient care increases, the introduction of advanced smartphones, mobile applications, fitness devices and innovative medical infrastructure are likewise setting the stage for the establishment of smart hospitals.

IoMT, meanwhile, is making precision medicine possible by creating opportunities for doctors and other medical personnel to develop unique treatments tailored to the needs and attributes of each individual. IoMT-based systems also have the ability provide constant feedback automatically for better results.

Access to big data is fuelling the growth of smart hospitals as well. By using analytics, hospitals can compare and study electronic medical records and hospital networks, control data for public health research and reduce hospital readmissions.

Blockchain is another IoMT solution the healthcare industry can take advantage of. This technology enables the creation of modern models for managing and sharing medical records and patient health patterns in specified populations or communities. A blockchain network can also bring together insurance companies, hospitals and patients for hassle-free and well-integrated payments.

The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) to collect massive amounts of data generated by the Internet of Things (IoT) allows medical staff to predict diagnostics based on complex analysis of algorithms. With the fusion of IoT for periodic control and AI for analytics, connected healthcare monitoring devices and equipment are expected to become moreintelligent in the future.

The main objective of IoMT is to eliminate unnecessary information within the medical system in order for doctors to focus on diagnoses and treatment. But since it is currently an emerging technology, standardized testing protocols should be developed to determine its safety and efficacy, and unlock its massive potential in the healthcare industry.