The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) represents an emerging era within the broader Internet of Things (IoT) framework, capturing increasing attention from researchers due to its vast applications in Smart Healthcare Systems (SHS). Particularly in light of the pandemic, it has become risky for individuals to visit doctors for minor concerns. Hence, leveraging the Internet of Things Medical devices enables convenient monitoring of day-to-day health records, facilitating early precautionary measures. IoMT assumes a pivotal role in the healthcare industry, enhancing electronic device accuracy, reliability, and productivity. This blog post provides an overview of IoMT, focusing on the impact of Medical Devices on the Internet of Things.
What is the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) or Healthcare IoT?
The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), also Healthcare IoT, is a concept of medical devices and applications integration that connect to healthcare information technology systems with the help of online computer networks. IoMT relies on machine-to-machine communication facilitated by medical devices equipped with Wi-Fi connectivity.
Here are a few examples of Medical Internet of Things applications:
- Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) for individuals with chronic diseases or long-term conditions.
- Tracking patient medication orders to ensure accurate dispensing and administration.
- Monitoring the location of hospitalized patients within medical facilities.
- Gathering data from wearable mobile health devices used by patients.
- Establishing connections between ambulances en route to medical facilities and healthcare professionals.
IoMT devices establish connections with cloud platforms, where the collected data is stored and analyzed. Telemedicine, which involves using IoMT devices to remotely monitor patients in their homes, is a practice associated with the Internet of Things Medical. This approach allows patients to receive medical attention without the need for frequent visits to hospitals or physicians' offices, particularly for routine inquiries or changes in their condition.
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Medical Internet of Things has a significant impact on healthcare by enhancing the availability, diversity, and speed of health data collection, transmission, and analysis. The increased volume of transmitted data improves decision-making for both patients and healthcare providers.
One of the critical benefits of the Internet of Medical Things is its role in enabling telemedicine and virtual care. These capabilities became particularly crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic, as they helped reduce the need for patients to physically visit healthcare facilities. By leveraging IoMT, healthcare providers could offer remote healthcare services, limiting the spread of the virus, alleviating the strain on hospitals, and ensuring that patients could receive necessary care from the comfort of their homes.
IoMT facilitates the continuous monitoring of patient health, allowing for earlier detection of potential issues and more timely interventions. Remote patient monitoring (RPM) through the Internet of Things Medical devices enables the collection of real-time data, such as vital signs, allowing healthcare providers to remotely track patient health conditions and intervene when necessary. This proactive approach helps prevent complications, reduce hospital readmissions, and improve overall patient outcomes.
IoMT enables the seamless integration of various medical devices, wearables, and sensors into healthcare systems. This integration promotes interoperability, allowing different devices to communicate and share data. It provides a comprehensive view of patient health, streamlines data management, and supports personalized treatment plans.
The Internet of Medical Things revolutionizes healthcare by expanding access to care, improving efficiency, and enhancing patient outcomes.
The impact of IoMT on the healthcare industry is extensive and can be observed across various settings, including in-home, on-body, in the community, and in-hospital.
In-home IoMT
In-home Internet of Medical Things enables individuals to transmit medical data from their homes to healthcare providers or hospitals. Remote patient monitoring (RPM) allows recently discharged patients to send metrics like blood pressure or oxygen saturation to their doctors, reducing hospital readmissions by detecting issues early on. Telehealth services provide flexibility for patients to connect with their healthcare professionals to address minor concerns remotely.
On-body IoMT
On-body Internet of Things Medical involves wearable medical devices that connect to remote tracking or monitoring systems. These devices can be used outside the home, allowing individuals to track their health metrics and share them with healthcare providers. Consumer on-body IoMT devices are available for personal use, while clinical on-body IoMT devices offer a wider range of sensor options, such as glucose sensors for diabetic patients.
Community IoMT
Community IoMT employs devices across a broader town or geographic area. Mobility services track patients while in transit, and emergency response intelligence systems assist paramedics and first responders in monitoring patient metrics. Remote services are enabled through technologies like point-of-care devices used in non-traditional medical settings and kiosks that dispense medicines in areas with limited infrastructure.
Suppliers also utilize medical devices in the Internet of Things in logistics, ensuring the transport of healthcare goods and equipment remains monitored and controlled to maintain quality throughout the shipping process.
In-Hospital IoMT
Hospitals employ IoMT for managing medical assets, tracking personnel, and monitoring patient movements within the premises. Sensors and tracking systems are utilized to gain comprehensive insights into interactions and operations within the hospital environment.
Challenges in IoMT Implementation
IoMT presents unique legal, regulatory, technical, and privacy challenges due to the involvement of multiple stakeholders, including medical device providers, connectivity providers, OEMs, software providers, system integrators, and end-users. Ownership and data sharing rights can be unclear, raising questions about legal responsibilities and data management, especially when data is stored in third-party cloud applications and shared across different organizations.
These challenges necessitate careful consideration and robust frameworks to address legal complexities, data ownership, privacy, and security concerns in the IoMT ecosystem.
Regulatory challenges
The use of IoMT in healthcare is subject to significant regulations to ensure the appropriate handling and security of medical data. Given the sensitivity of this data, regulations govern its usage and storage, as well as requirements for securing the technology itself. For instance, the FDA has issued comprehensive guidance on managing cybersecurity in medical devices.
Additional guidance and regulations have been released by entities like the European Union, the United Kingdom, the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, and the European Commission.
Despite the existing regulations and guidance, there is a perception that the regulatory framework lags behind the rapid advancements in IoMT technology. According to a Deloitte study, 66% of respondents believe that it will take another five years for the regulatory framework to catch up with what is currently possible.
These regulatory challenges highlight the need for ongoing efforts to update and adapt regulations to keep pace with the evolving IoMT landscape. It is crucial to strike a balance between protecting patient data and fostering innovation, ensuring that the regulatory environment enables the safe and responsible use of IoMT while promoting advancements in healthcare technology.
Technical challenges
The distributed nature of the Internet of Medical Things infrastructure presents technical challenges in terms of secure communication between devices and software systems. As protocols and security standards evolve, compatibility issues can arise when older systems are unable to keep up with these changes. It is essential to ensure seamless integration and interoperability across various IoMT components to facilitate effective data exchange and communication.
Privacy and security challenges
The Internet of Things Medical data flows through the public Internet, exposing it to a higher level of security threats compared to a firewalled private network. The shared nature of this data among multiple systems creates multiple potential attack vectors. To mitigate these risks, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) need to adhere to industry best practices in terms of security measures. Administrators should employ the latest encryption protocols, implement strong and unique passwords for access, and validate the SSL certificates of remote systems to ensure secure data transmission and protection.
Our Experience
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Despite the ongoing war, Stfalcon company has remained committed to its work and has prioritized saving the lives of people in Ukraine. With this mission in mind, the company's focus has shifted towards developing software that not only improves lives but also plays a crucial role in saving them.
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In the midst of the war, the Khmelnytskyi regional military administration approached Stfalcon with a vital project: automating the activation and deactivation of street warning sirens to effectively inform the population about threats. After evaluating existing technological solutions on the market, Stfalcon chose to utilize the GSM alarm controller developed by the Ukrainian company OKO as the foundation for creating a device that successfully fulfilled the task at hand.
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Our team was entrusted with the development of software that would seamlessly interact with a smart lock. The objective was to create a user-friendly application that would enable users to conveniently open and close their home locks through commands sent from their smartphones.
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Additionally, the software needed to incorporate advanced features such as issuing virtual reality passwords, revoking access if needed, and recognizing the owner for automatic door opening.
Bottom Line
Around 60% of healthcare organizations worldwide have already integrated Internet of Things (IoT) technologies into their operations. The healthcare industry is undergoing a transformative shift as digital advancements enable the widespread use of technologically advanced and interconnected products, providing consumers with improved access to healthcare facilities, even in underserved and remote areas. This digital transformation empowers both patients and physicians, revolutionizing traditional healthcare practices and enhancing overall healthcare delivery. If you would like to build a healthcare project, just contact us, complimentary consultation is available.
