Why IoT Monitoring Devices Are So Integral to Modern Healthcare

Internet of Things (IoT) devices have permeated almost every sector and industry imaginable. They are a staple of modern innovation, communicating with each other, reporting on countless factors, and enhancing operational efficiency.

In addition to enhancing decision-making, automation, and efficiency, IoT can also monitor and regulate human health. For the last few decades, medical professionals and research facilities within the healthcare industry have used IoT devices to enhance medical efforts, which have garnered praise and significant success.

The IoMT (Internet of Medical Things) sector is one of the fastest growing within the broader IoT market, and it’s predicted to reach $176 billion (£159 billion) by 2026. The sector comprises various medical devices designed to monitor health data, administer prescriptions and dosages, and advance research and innovation efforts.

In this blog, we’ll focus on the monitoring side of IoT in the medical industry and how these devices have contributed to and influenced modern medicine efforts.

Monitoring Devices

Professionals in the healthcare industry commonly use IoT devices to track and monitor patients remotely, providing digitised care from the comfort of the patient’s home. IoMT integration has proven transformative for patients and doctors, preventing continuous hospital trips and simplifying the patient experience.

Alongside experiential improvement, the constant tracking and reporting ability of IoMT devices has allowed for more precise results, which helps across various areas. Dosages and prescriptions, in particular, are often directly influenced by data originating from IoMT devices, cutting down and often fully automating many parts of a healthcare service’s workflow. Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) efforts continue revolutionising many processes within healthcare facilities.

Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) has proven transformative to healthcare, and IoT plays a substantial role in its deployment.

‘RPM’ refers to any device that facilitates health monitoring or tracking, such as wristbands measuring heart rate and blood pressure. The data collected from these devices is sent to a doctor instantly, eliminating the need for constant appointments. These devices help doctors detect anomalies, catch issues early, and keep patients healthier. Here are some examples of RPM devices:

1.      Cardiovascular Monitoring

Patients use connected blood pressure monitors to record and transmit readings regularly, allowing healthcare providers to fine-tune their treatments. A range of devices also track weight and heart rate to detect early signs of fluid retention or cardiac events.

Wearable monitoring devices are also commonly used outside of condition treatment; for example, many smartwatches monitor users’ heart rates during exercise and day-to-day activities. These are considered IoMT devices, as they collect data and communicate with integrated applications using the Internet to generate graphs and statistics.

2.      Diabetes Management

Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) provide real-time blood sugar levels, enabling patients and providers to manage diabetes effectively.

Patients can autonomously track themselves using smartphone apps that connect to CGMs, such as Glucose Buddy. These apps often generate graphs and statistics based on real, high-quality data, allowing doctors and people with diabetes to better understand and moderate their condition.

CGMs often communicate with Apple and Android smartphones through NFC (Near Field Communication) technology, which is proximity-based and allows the device to be tapped.

3.      Respiratory Condition Monitoring

Pulse oximeters measure blood oxygen levels, essential for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma.

These devices were especially useful during the COVID-19 pandemic. For an extended period, medical professionals did not fully understand the virus; the volatility of the symptoms made it difficult to determine its actual danger. These medical devices assisted doctors and caregivers in gaining a broader understanding of the virus’s impact, most notably by identifying the deterioration of patients with silent hypoxia (lack of oxygen without shortness of breath). In this context, IoT technology has made an enormous difference in patient health and patient outcomes.

4.      Chronic Disease Management

Patients with heart disease and hypertension use RPM equipment to monitor vital signs. The technology contributes to lower healthcare costs, adherence to treatment plans, and healthier lifestyle choices. The effectiveness of these devices largely depends on the patient’s involvement in their care and responsibility to use and maintain IoMT devices properly, ensuring their investment in their well-being.

5.      Hand Hygiene Monitoring

IoT-powered hygiene devices are often found in hospitals and doctors’ surgeries to ensure that staff and patients wash their hands properly.

An IoT-connected wearable device detects when staff use a hand-washing station and can track their location as they move around a hospital or other medical premises. These tags reveal whether healthcare professionals have washed their hands before and after patient interactions.

Most hand hygiene monitoring devices run on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)-based platforms. They have proven hugely effective, with some studies citing a 60% reduction in infection spreading.

How These Devices Work

More often than not, IoMT devices use Bluetooth and IoT-enabled SIM cards. These enable seamless connectivity for medical equipment, directly boosting the scope of the devices’ use cases and overall patient care. These devices mark the transition from a traditional healthcare facility to a smart hospital.

In many cases, IoT devices reduce the need for human intervention in certain areas, such as manually populating electronic health records with real-time data and reducing patient consultations.

IoT SIM card users can expect to enjoy a variety of benefits, such as:

• Reliable Connectivity – Guarantee consistent and secure communication, with uninterrupted monitoring and minimal delays in data transmission.
• Better Results – The sheer scope of IoT devices means you can make robust, real-time, and data-driven decisions.
• Enhanced Cybersecurity – Protect your patients’ data security while complying with GDPR, HIPAA, and DPA regulations.
• Remote Device Management – Monitor, update, and manage devices remotely, with less need for physical intervention. Get real-time health updates from your patients.
• Cost-Effectiveness – Enjoy reduced costs and the frequency of visits and admissions into healthcare facilities.

At Iotie, we provide IoT solutions compatible with networks across over 150 countries, all from a single SIM card. By using IoT technology to power smart healthcare solutions, we enable you to leverage your medical premises’ continued growth, efficiency, and innovation.