IoT Healthcare Solutions: Innovating Care Delivery With Connected Devices and Data Analytics

If you’re running a healthcare business and looking for ways to innovate care delivery, the Internet of Things – or IoT – might be your ticket. Connected devices and data analytics are changing healthcare in many exciting ways. From remote patient monitoring to asset tracking and predictive analytics, IoT solutions open up a world of possibilities. 

But there must be a catch, you might think. And you’re right. Implementing new tech in a heavily regulated industry is no walk in the park. Privacy, security, integration are obstacles that loom large. Are you still considering taking the plunge? Don’t let the risks drown out the rewards. 

IoT software development can cut costs, improve outcomes, and keep patients healthier and happier. Whether you’re a scrappy startup or an established player, it’s time to start connecting the dots. IoT is the future of healthcare. Do you want to know why and how? This article will reveal all the cards.

The Promise of IoT in Healthcare

Healthcare is one of the industries that stands to benefit most from innovation. Saving and continuing people’s lives have become possible only thanks to inventions, research, and, of course, digitalization. 

According to CHI Software’s research, 39% of healthcare and wellness businesses rely on complex solutions to improve patient experience and consistent image. 

Moreover, 75% of respondents said that increased integration of technologies and data-driven solutions is the main direction of the industry’s future growth.

IoT solutions for healthcare professionals, along with AI-driven innovations, are the future many of us believe in. This technology literally links patients and doctors, allowing them to establish a 24/7 connection never before possible. 

In response to this opportunity, around 67% of healthcare companies are either considering or definitely implementing IoT in reaching their goals.

To confirm this information with other research, we’ve turned to IoT healthcare market trends and found out the global IoT in healthcare niche is anticipated to grow from USD 127.7 billion in 2023 to USD 289.2 by 2028. In other words, the market could double in just five years.

What does it all mean for your business? First and foremost, you can’t ignore Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) innovations and rely solely on traditional methods of providing patient care and experience. But how far you go with interconnected devices is up to you.

Our task for today is to introduce you to all your options and discuss what advantages you might gain from the Internet of Things.

IoT Healthcare Opportunities: Improving Operations and Patient Care

The IoT transforms healthcare delivery through connected medical devices and health monitoring apps. 

For patients, this means improved quality of care and potentially lower costs. Healthcare organizations can gain operational efficiencies, reduce errors, and provide value-added services. But let’s learn the details.

Connected Care Anywhere

Wearable devices and sensors can continuously monitor patients’ health data, such as heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, etc. Doctors can get real-time updates about patients’ conditions and can take prompt action in case of emergencies. Patients, in turn, feel reassured knowing their health is under watch 24/7.

Improved Chronic Disease Management

IoT devices help patients with chronic diseases like diabetes or heart disease better manage their conditions at home.

Connected glucometers and blood pressure cuffs automatically upload readings to doctors who can adjust treatment plans remotely. Patients adhere better to treatment plans and avoid complications, reducing hospital visits.

Operational Efficiencies

It’s not only patients directly. Your internal operations also get their advantages: 

• First and foremost, connected medical devices integrate with electronic health records systems, reducing manual data entry and errors. 
• Asset tracking systems help locate medical equipment quickly. 
• Predictive analytics identify patterns to optimize staffing and resource needs. 

New Value-Added Services

Data from IoT devices and apps provide insights into patient health and behaviors, which can help you offer personalized care plans, wellness programs, and other value-added services. 

For example, an app may analyze sleep data and exercise patterns to recommend lifestyle changes. These services build patient loyalty and open new revenue streams.

All in all, with connected devices and data-driven insights, care can become more predictive, preventive, and precise. But, as is often the case, these benefits of IoT in patient care management look good on paper – but we want to show you how they work for real businesses. 

How It Works in Real Life: Our Experience of Implementing IoT in Healthcare 

Healthcare is not the easiest industry to work in because of regulations and security concerns. But CHI Software is all for tackling challenges. Let us show you some great use cases of IoT improving healthcare.

Healthcare App to Track Senior Well-Being

This project is special for our team because it touches on the senior audience. Tracking and monitoring health after the age 50 is a vital necessity, so we’re glad to be helpful in this niche.

One of our clients is a US company providing a popular AI Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) solution, aiming to oversee elderly patients and notify staff in case of falls, dehydration, or unusual physiological changes. 

The goal of our project was to craft a cutting-edge cross-platform app. Such a solution not only delves into personal health monitoring and predictive data analytics, but also offers real-time tracking of the patient’s location and movement, allowing for swift deployment of first aid during emergencies.

That’s a complete list of features our team has come up with:

1. Connection with caregivers: Sharing info with family or nurses;
2. Tracking: Find seniors easily when they are out, using GPS;
3. Providing information: Receiving and managing notifications from linked devices;
4. Quick help at the press of a button: Seniors can ask for immediate aid in emergencies;
5. Reporting: Checking out detailed graphs of seniors’ health data over time;
6. Medication management: Sending reminders to take medication on time;
7. Movement tracking: Keeping tabs on daily activities like walking and exercises.

We have even more details to share. Follow this link to learn more about the project’s tech stack, final results, and client benefits.

Remote Monitoring App for Nurseries

Here’s a great example of how to use remote monitoring features for well-being software. This project is not strictly about healthcare but still plays a crucial role in babies’ safety and environmental conditions.

Our client is a US-based startup building IoT solutions for childcare, particularly connected nursery solutions. 

This project aims to provide continuous remote monitoring with cameras and audio, connect at least three devices with one platform, send reports and data analytics, and more.

Here’s what our connected nursery has to offer now:

1. Staying connected with a remote monitoring assistant for parents;
2. Getting alerts about the children’s heart rate, breathing, and activity;
3. In-depth reports on the children’s activity and health status;
4. Detailed graphs of the children’s information over a specific period;
5. Timers to create the perfect environment for various purposes and times of the day, for example, for feeding or getting asleep;
6. A range of settings to personalize the user experience.

Would you like to know even more about the app’s flow and tech stack? Visit our portfolio to explore everything from start to finish.

Of course, these two projects are just examples. The world of IoT in healthcare is far broader. Here are more opportunities to consider.

A Complete Overview of Your Options: Key Healthcare IoT Applications

When you begin your IoT journey, you can either focus on patient monitoring or workflow efficiency. What would you choose? While you’re considering your answer, let us tell you more about each of these options.

 

Remote Patient Monitoring Systems with Wearables and Sensors

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) allows doctors to track patients’ conditions from afar, using fitness trackers, smartwatches, and other wearables to monitor heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation, respiration rate, and body temperature. The data is transmitted to healthcare providers for analysis and review. Here are some more details on this use case.

1. Continuous Health Monitoring

Doctors can get real-time patient health updates and detect alarming issues early. For example, heart rate or blood pressure changes could signal a cardiac event. 

RPM also gives doctors data to analyze trends and make better treatment decisions. Patients feel more engaged and empowered in managing their health.

2. Managing Chronic Conditions

Studies show RPM can significantly reduce hospital readmissions and healthcare costs for chronic disease patients with diabetes, COPD, heart disease, etc. Patients monitor critical metrics at home and avoid diseases getting worse while doctors make accurate adjustments to treatment plans remotely based on data. 

3. In-Home Rehabilitation

Recovering patients sometimes require physical therapy and rehabilitation at home. RPM allows doctors to monitor a patient’s physical therapy progress remotely using wearable health technology to track range of motion, gait, and activity levels. 

The data helps doctors determine if patients perform prescribed exercises correctly and frequently enough. Doctors can then modify rehabilitation plans remotely based on the patient’s progress, leading to better outcomes and a quicker return to normal activities.

As technologies advance and the IoT healthcare benefits become more apparent, businesses are increasingly adopting RPM solutions. When implemented properly, remote monitoring leverages IoT and big data to provide higher quality and lower costs for patients.

Improving Workflow Efficiency in Hospitals

Hospitals generate massive amounts of daily data from various smart healthcare devices, electronic health records (EHRs), and other clinical IT systems. By integrating IoT healthcare solutions, facilities can capture and analyze all this data to optimize workflows and reduce costs – let’s see exactly how. 

1. Streamlining Clinical Operations

IoT allows hospitals to track wheelchairs, defibrillators, and other critical equipment using sensors and tags in real-time. This helps guarantee equipment is readily available when needed and reduces time wasted searching for devices across the building. 

IoT also enables smart scheduling of operating rooms, optimizing usage and improving throughput. Finally, sensors can monitor environmental conditions like temperature and humidity to maintain proper conditions in every room.

2. Automating Mundane Tasks

IoT frees up clinicians and staff from repetitive manual tasks so they can focus on patient care. Here are just a few examples out of many:

• IoT-enabled pill dispensers automatically sort and dispense medications according to a patient’s unique dosage schedule; 
• Smart beds can automatically adjust positions, monitor vital signs, and alert staff to potential issues;
• Robotic process automation (RPA) can handle back-office duties like billing, freeing employees to take on more engaging work.

3. Infection control

IoT medical devices have an important role in infection control and hygiene in healthcare facilities. These are several use cases to consider:

• Smart handwashing systems can detect whether staff properly washed their hands before interacting with patients; 
• Occupancy sensors can monitor how many people are in a room and alert if it becomes overcrowded; 
• Air quality monitors check for pollutants and adjust ventilation as needed. 

By identifying risk areas and behaviors, these solutions help curb the spread of disease and create safer environments. 

4. Improving Communication and Collaboration

With so many connected systems and devices, interoperability and integration are key. IoT platforms can integrate data from EHRs, medical devices, and other sources to provide clinicians with a comprehensive overview of a patient’s health status and needs. 

Real-time location systems track the location of patients, staff, and assets, improving coordination and response times. Alerts and notifications can be sent directly to clinicians for quick action.

Overcoming Challenges of IoT in Healthcare

Challenges such as privacy concerns with IoT in healthcare settings may sound familiar to you. But they’re not the only ones you should take into account. Have a look at three more points below.

Security and Privacy Concerns

With connected devices come increased risks of cyber threats, data breaches, and privacy issues. Healthcare organizations must prioritize security and privacy by implementing strong data encryption, device authentication, and access control measures. They should also train staff on security best practices and have an incident response plan in place.

Interoperability Issues

For IoT solutions to provide maximum benefit, devices and systems must be able to communicate with each other. However, a lack of universally accepted standards hampers interoperability in healthcare. 

Organizations should consider open standards and APIs to enable data sharing across platforms. Collaboration within the industry is another vital step toward overcoming this challenge.

Cost and Budget Constraints

While IoT may reduce costs in the long run through improved efficiency and productivity, initial acquisition and deployment costs can be high. Your company must evaluate the total cost of ownership and return on investment to build a compelling business case. 

You can also consider more affordable IoT options, such as smart sensors, or take an incremental approach by running pilot programs before a broader rollout.

Resistance to Change

Some healthcare staff may resist adopting new technology due to a lack of technical skills or a general aversion to change. To overcome this, organizations should focus on education and training. 

Involving staff in the planning and implementation process will also make them feel more invested in the success of IoT solutions. With time, staff will view IoT as a beneficial enhancement to their jobs and the level of care they can provide.

Conclusion

Implementing IoT has benefits for both patients and clinics. All you have to do is trust the technology and consider all the challenges. Data security in healthcare IoT or interoperability issues are no joke for any industry, but we know how to help you overcome these challenges.

Establishing efficient collaboration is the best approach when planning innovations. CHI Software will be by your side at every step, be it initial research or final deployment. 

By starting small and always keeping the patient at the center, you can harness the full potential of connectivity and data to create the next generation of healthcare solutions. The CHI team will readily help you with that. 

You can book your first intro call for a rough project estimation in a few days. Just fill in this contact form – yes, it’s that easy!