Why IoT in Healthcare Addresses Long-Standing Issues

Despite noticeable improvements in the last decade, the healthcare industry faces a number of lingering problems that may only get worse as time goes on. Many medical organizations already have trouble filling all their positions, and the physician shortage is expected to worsen. The Association of American Medical Colleges predicts a shortage of 122,000 physicians by 2032. Couple that with an aging population needing more health services and it’s easy to understand why there is cause for concern.

At the same time, the healthcare industry is struggling to keep all patient data current and accessible. In fact, more than half of healthcare consumers are unsure how to access their comprehensive health record. With all of these problems, providers are earnestly seeking healthcare management solutions to stay up to date with patients while helping more than ever before.

Bring things together with connected care.

The solution for better care comes from the Internet of Things (IoT), a technological term that suggests connecting everything to the internet. That includes devices like smartphones and tablets as well as everyday items not usually associated with the internet (cars, clothing, appliances). The goal is to get everything to work together to collect and transmit data.

Some cities have embedded internet-enabled devices within traffic lights, street signs, and roadways to better monitor traffic conditions. Drivers are alerted instantly of bad road conditions or accidents, and traffic lights respond to divert traffic. Insurance companies can also monitor driving habits and reward drivers for safe behavior. With this use case in mind, the healthcare industry can tap into the benefits of IoT to collect accurate data and improve patient engagement.

Discover how IoT is changing healthcare.

Around 60% of healthcare organizations have already implemented IoT. The benefits of adopting IoT in healthcare are simply too big to ignore. 

Serve more patients.

Providers can equip patients with smart medical devices that keep track of their vital signs. That data is sent back to the medical facility so providers can monitor how their patients are doing at any time. Think of it as the next generation of smart-band technology. 

With real-time diagnostics, patients don’t need to schedule recurring appointments. Instead, providers receive automatic event notifications if something worrisome occurs such as a drop in heart rate or elevated blood sugar levels. As a result, providers take on more patients because the need for regular check-ins is eliminated — which in turn addresses the physician shortage.

 

Receive accurate data.

Adopting IoT in healthcare means providers don’t have to rely on patient reporting.  Data is generated directly from the patient’s medical device and transmitted to the facility in real time. Medical professionals have more data to work with as well,  reducing the chance of errors creeping into the dataset. Anomalies are detected and outliers are identified much more easily.

Improve efficiencies.

With patient data collected and analyzed, doctors examine the overall health of patients more quickly and identify any potential issues, leading to faster diagnoses and quicker recommendations for treatment. This means using IoT in healthcare can lead to shorter visits. Patients no longer need to bring doctors up to speed because they have complete and up-to-date data. Spending less time in an office is one benefit both patients and providers would enjoy.

Manage prescriptions.

IoT in healthcare makes it possible for providers and patients to manage prescriptions more effectively. Patients get reminders to refill medication or take it on a regular basis. Providers receive alerts when patients forget to take their medication. The result is a more effective management of this critical aspect of healthcare.

Increase patient engagement.

Thanks to the rise in virtual assistants and handy healthcare apps, patients feel more engaged and empowered on their health journey by communicating directly with medical professionals. All of these factors contribute to better patient experiences and improved patient satisfaction.
 

Step into the future of healthcare.

As the global population gets older, the demand for medical services will only increase. The healthcare industry has to make adjustments to meet demand while improving health outcomes. New technologies like the IoT in healthcare will become instrumental in helping medical professionals reach this goal. Experts predict that around 40% of IoT-related technology will be used for health purposes in 2020 — more than any other industry. 

As the healthcare industry sees the benefits and potential of IoT, it will be quicker to embrace the technology and enjoy the improved healthcare it provides. To get started on your journey to transformation, learn more about connected care with Salesforce Health Cloud.

 

Healthcare & Life Sciences

Innovate faster with trailblazing apps.

See how New England Biolabs, Invisalign, Eli Lilly, and St. Joseph Health all built game-changing apps on the Customer 360 Platform.