The global pandemic in 2020 ushered in rapid changes in the healthcare industry across the world. The explosion in demand for telemedicine and remote care was one of the key changes.
Today, when the healthcare industry in the US faces challenges in terms of accessibility, growing costs, and operational inefficiencies, telemedicine and remote patient monitoring takes this a step further. Not only does IoT device integration with telemedicine address these pressing challenges, but it is also an avenue for new opportunities and enhancing patient care outcomes. In the EU, telemedicine is currently being adopted by 55%-71% of service providers.
In this article, we’ll give you a detailed breakdown of how IoT device integration can empower telemedicine, the use cases, benefits of IoT devices for telemedicine and challenges.
IoT and AI in Telemedicine: The Future is Now
Telemedicine has already been proven to improve accessibility and reduce costs for clinicians and patients alike.
With IoT device integration, clinicians can access vital health data in real time no matter where their patient may be. IoT sensors attached to wearable devices continuously monitor and securely transmit pre-selected health information to the healthcare provider. This data is analyzed in a centralized system – allowing for faster diagnostics and preventive care.
For instance, with telestroke care, neurologists can now monitor the status of patients remotely. Robotic devices equipped with sensors and cameras can detect changes in patterns of vital signs, facial expressions, and motor functions. This data is transmitted in real-time to neurologists who can now take quick decisions like administering a clot-busting medication at the right time. This improves the odds of recovery and reduces intervention time.
Applications and Use Cases of IoT Device Integration with Telemedicine
When integrated with IoT devices, telemedicine has emerged as a powerful force. In addition, patient adoption is on the rise too, with over 76% of patients in the US stating that they would be happy to share their IoT device data with trusted medical care professionals with the right security.
Here are some of the most popular use cases and applications of IoT device integrated telemedicine.
Remote Patient Monitoring
Remote patient monitoring when combined with telemedicine can greatly improve patient care outcomes for a range of diseases. It also reduces the costs to healthcare providers and reduces readmission rates. A wide variety of IoT devices are already in use:
- Wearable devices to monitor health vitals
- Implantable IoT devices like cardiovascular pacemakers and defibrillators
- Glucose monitors
- Connected inhalers to monitor usage
Chronic Disease Management
Chronic disease management becomes much more manageable when the power of IoT devices and telemedicine get together. According to CDC, 90% of US annual expenditure on healthcare goes towards the management of chronic diseases. Telemedicine can greatly reduce these costs without impacting patient outcomes. This can be a game changer for managing diseases like strokes, heart problems, diabetes, and arthritis.
According to a recent study, telemedicine also reduced negative emotional reactions among patients and improved medication adherence.
Diagnostic Support
Once health data is securely transmitted to a centralized database, AI powered analytics can greatly assist clinicians in quick diagnosis and decision making. When used in tandem with your patient database management system, doctors can track patterns and early warning signs with increased accuracy. These tools enable doctors to do their jobs even better.
Senior Care
Senior care and home care facilities are also enhanced with IoT device integration with telemedicine. Here are some ways to enhance the lives of seniors:
- Fall detection systems with emergency alerts
- Real-time health monitoring for a variety of conditions
- Smart medication dispensers to improve medication adherence
- Personalized emergency response systems
- Smart home systems to aid seniors in daily living
These are just some of the rapidly evolving applications of IoT and telemedicine across the world.
Benefits of IoT Integration in Telemedicine
There are several benefits to healthcare service providers and patients alike. The advantages of IoT integration in telemedicine include:
- Improved access to medical care and cost reduction: When doctors can monitor their patients remotely, hospitals see fewer readmissions while enhancing patient engagement. A recent study found that ER visits reduced to 3.03% from 8% with telemedicine. Patients in remote areas can access quality healthcare at a fraction of the cost.
- Reduced burden on nursing staff and personnel: Your nursing staff and medical personnel can focus on critical patients and free up their energy. The hospital also saves on in-patient management costs. This improves the operational efficiency of your hospitals too.
- Improved patient satisfaction and outcomes: Patient satisfaction improves when they receive treatment that’s timely and effective. Proactive patient monitoring can also enhance preventive healthcare outcomes.
- Safer environments for healthcare providers and patients: With telemedicine, improve the safety of your medical staff and patients alike by reducing risks of transmission without compromising on patient care outcomes.
Challenges and Future of IoT in Telemedicine
While the IoT in healthcare industry is expected to grow to $ 250 billion by 2028, it isn’t without its challenges.
Security and privacy concerns remain the top challenge, especially when the sensitive health data of patients is concerned. Implementing top-notch security and encryption parameters is crucial to combat this issue.
In addition, interoperability between different systems and devices continues to remain a challenge too.
However, with the deployment of 5G technology and blockchain technology, patients can get enhanced security without compromising on quality care.
An IoT Integration Partner can Transform your Telemedicine Services
You don’t have to go it alone when it comes to IoT integration! An IoT device integration partner like Bridgera can help you seamlessly transition your existing healthcare systems into IoT-connected healthcare systems of the future.
Our HIPAA-compliant platform is tailored to each client. What’s more, we offer continued support and quick problem resolution even after deployment. Future-proof your clinic today with Bridgera.
About Bridgera: Bridgera effortlessly combines innovation and expertise to deliver cutting-edge solutions using connected intelligence. We engineer experiences that go beyond expectations, equipping our clients with the tools they need to excel in an increasingly interconnected world. Since our establishment in 2015, Bridgera, headquartered in Raleigh, NC, has specialized in crafting and managing tailored SaaS solutions for web, mobile, and IoT applications across North America.
About Author: Krishna Varma is a writer and researcher, who enjoys writing about technology, IoT, and lifestyle. When she isn’t writing and reading, you’ll find her relaxing with a quiet cup of tea over the weekends.