IoT as a New Solution in Hospitals

In an almost imperceptible way, the IoT, or Internet of Things, has managed to integrate itself into practically all aspects of our lives. One of the most important, and which has evolved by leaps and bounds in the last couple of years, is in the area of ​​health.

Thanks to these new technologies, not only the staff benefits, but also the patients. Being able to easily collect metrics, such as heart rate, temperature, blood pressure or glucose, facilitates remote medical interpretation and even the prevention of medical emergencies.

Implementing the IoMT in our daily lives

Today we have various IoMT (Internet of Medical Things) devices that are within reach of our hands – and pocket. There are an immense number of smart watches and bracelets that capture our health metrics at all times.

It is common to hear of cases where these devices have prevented major mishaps, one of them is alerting about a possible heart attack. They can also help you manage your stress levels through breathing, monitor your sleep cycle, and give you tips for living an overall healthier life.

The integration of IoT in health centers

Although there are devices for daily use for the user, they are not reliable enough as those designed for medical personnel. In health centers we find more robust, precise and specialized sensors.

Sensor families range from medical to security and prevention. Some of the most important in the IoMT are:

Monitoring: These are the most “common” that we can find in health centers. There are heart rate, glucose, blood pressure, etc. It is possible to implement more than one at a time to measure other factors such as depression or mood states.

Follow-up: By collecting metrics in an automated manner, these devices are capable of evaluating the progression of diseases such as Parkinson's. This allows the patient to continue with their life from home, avoiding prolonged periods of observation in a hospital.

Interconnection: Using Bluetooth technology, these sensors can be connected to inhalers for the treatment of diseases such as asthma and COPD, helping patients recognize the factors that cause their attacks.

IoT as a security measure in hospitals

The Internet of Things can not only be used as a medical preventive measure, it is also very important for the security and correct functioning of devices.

It is vital to know who, how and when they enter protected areas. For this, there are sensors that record the entry and exit time as well as locks with fingerprint readers.

Knowing the humidity and temperature index in a room can prevent device malfunctions and keep medications in good condition.

You can also monitor the health of critical equipment since any failure in them is a risk for patients, doctors and in general for all staff.

At Vialterna we have a large family of IoT sensors(Internet of Things), if you want to learn more about it and the solutions we can provide you, do not hesitate to contact us.

Conclusion

The IoMT is a technological revolution that will not stop evolving. What is being achieved, and what awaits us, is worthy of the best works of science fiction.

From digestible sensors, smart contact lenses or robotic surgery. It seems that there are no impossible things for the Internet of Things in the area of ​​health, all in favor of us users.