IoT in Healthcare

Wearable IOT devices that allow non-invasive and continuous monitoring of physiological
parameters. These wearable devices may be in various forms such as belts or wrist bands.

These wearable’s devices are a type of wireless sensor network- called body area network –
measurements from a number of wearable devices are continuously sent to master nodes (
such as a smart phone) which then sends the data to a serve/cloud for analysis and archiving.
Health- care providers can analyze the collected data to determine any health conditions or
anomalies.

Commonly used body sensors include: body temperature, heart rate, pulse oximeter oxygen
saturation(SPO2), blood pressure, electro cardiogram (ECG), movement (using accelerometers),
and electroencephalogram (EEG). Not only wearable systems – there are many benefits
provided by the IOT technologies, these are classified into:

- Tracking of objects and people (staff or patients)

- Indentifying and authentication of people
- Automatic data collection and sensing

Tracking
Tracking is a function aimed at the identification of a person or object in motion. This includes
both real-time position tracking, such as the case of patient- flow monitoring to improve
workflow in hospitals, and tracking of motion through choke points, such as access in
designated areas.

It can also be asset tracking (continuous inventory location tracking) and materials tracking-
prevents left in during surgery – such as specimen and blood products.

Identification and Authentication

This includes patient identification to reduce harmful incidents (such as wrong dose/drug/
time/ procedure) – Comprehensive and current electronic medical record maintenance(both
in/out-patients), and infant identifications in hospitals to prevent mismatching. In relations to
staff, identification and authentication is most frequently used to grant access. In relation to
assets, identification and authentication is predominately used to meet the requirements of
security procedures, to avoid thefts or losses of important instruments and products.
Data collection
Automatic data collection and transfer is mostly aimed at reducing form processing time,
process automation (including data entry and collection errors), automated care and procedure
auditing, medical inventory management. This function also relates to integrating RFID
technology with other health information and clinical applications. Technologies within a facility
and with potential expansions of such networks across provides and locations.

Sensing
Sensor devices enable function centered on patient, and in particular on diagnosing patient
conditions, providing RT information on patient health indicators.
Applications domain includes different telemedicine solutions, monitoring patient complaints
with medication, patient alert systems.
Sensors can be used for in-patient and out-patient treatment. Heterogeneous wireless access-
based remote patient monitoring systems can be deployed to reach patient anywhere –using
multiple wireless technology (for instance use NFC/ Bluetooth when patient is close and patient
moves further away use 802.15.14 then 802.11, Mobile 3G/4G or satellite communication) to
support continuous bio-signal monitoring as the patient moves.