The best thing about modern healthcare is its ability to seamlessly integrate modern technology into its operations. For instance, the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), which is a component of the Internet of Things (IoT), has revolutionised the healthcare industry, to say the least.
The sheer human cost of the pandemic is beyond any objective calculation. The entire medical system had its weaknesses exposed by the spread of a disease that showed no mercy on anyone. In that context, this marriage of technology and medical sciences is phenomenal in its importance.
It is important to have a basic knowledge of the technology to make use of it with commercial viability. Read on for a proper understanding of what IoMT is, which devices fall under the ambit of IoMT, and the benefits and challenges associated with it.
What is IoMT?
The principal objective with which IoMT is designed is to create a system of interconnected smart medical devices that can store, manage and organise patient data. When connected to AI tools, these devices can provide a huge database that can be analysed for valuable medical insights. These are the IoMT components that lead to better data handling and enhanced patient outcomes:
- IoMT refers to data gathered by smart devices, which are known for their precision and accuracy in monitoring health conditions
- The technology that is used in the data transmission and storage process is up-to-date and advanced, making it compatible across all devices
- IoMT makes use of AI tools that analyse a combination of big data and the analytics of the data gathered on the IoMT servers for better insights into medical history
- IoMT makes use of data from devices that are incredibly easy to use, and are thus readily being integrated into the lives of people for medical use
The upward curve of the growing market size of IoT is going to reach a staggering 134 billion USD by the end of the decade. Although IoMT is only a subset of IoT, it is not difficult to gauge the general trend in favour of these electronically controlled medical devices.
What are the Most Common types of IoMT Devices?
IoMT devices come in all shapes and sizes, but they serve the same function – to apprise the users of their health condition in real-time. Let us take a look at the majorly used IoMT devices –
- Point-of-care devices that are directly used by the healthcare professional for an immediate understanding of the patient’s health, e.g. portable ultrasound machines
- Personal medical wearables like smartwatches, which offer a primary level of assistance in ascertaining medical conditions
- Medical-grade wearables like ECG monitors, the data from which informs medical assistance from medical professionals
- Emergency response systems that enable users to call for help immediately when they do not feel good about their health
- Smart pills that can be ingested for detecting diseases that are not otherwise apparent, such as Crohn’s disease
- Various in-house devices are used to monitor resources, like different medical equipment, so that patients are assured of quality medical assistance and care
What are the Benefits of IoMT in Healthcare?
IoMT has several benefits that trump the traditional ways of dealing with patients and their medical data. The medical outcomes have become better with the fast knowledge transfer through smart devices, and the medical work process has become streamlined and systematic. Let us now delve deeper into the major benefits of IoMT.
Improved Patient Outcomes
Patient outcomes have improved with the use of IoMT in healthcare. With an ecosystem of connected, technologically advanced medical equipment, it has become easier for healthcare workers to manage patient data efficiently. The other implication of this systematic storage of data is that patients now have a lower risk of an unprecedented medical crisis. The reason for this is that with remote monitoring systems and smart devices at work, any illness can be detected before it becomes a cause for concern. Thus, it will be safe to say that IoMT solutions have brought a paradigm shift in healthcare infrastructure and increased the life expectancy of patients.
Reduced Costs in Healthcare
It is a well-known fact that healthcare is costly, and the medical bill goes through the roof with every hospital visit patients need to make. However, with the Internet of Medical Things revolutionising healthcare, patient visits to the hospital can be effectively reduced. Data shows that about 64% of patients have at least one IoMT device that they use at home. Therefore, patient awareness about the constant need for medical checkups has been converted to overall better health and well-being. Since the healthcare industry deploys microtasking tools to effectively streamline workflows, patient data can be meaningfully utilised through an enhanced resource management system. As a result, early detection of illnesses has become the norm, and the risk of health complications is significantly reduced.
Enhanced Efficiency of Medical Processes
With task management tools that come under IoMT, medical professionals can manage their workflow efficiently by automating repetitive tasks. Thus, they can make use of the considerable saved time in other crucial processes, resulting in faster treatment of patients. Furthermore, with the paperwork being automated, the chances of manual error while filling up forms or datasheets are reduced. The rapidity with which the healthcare industry is banking on the efficiency of this technology is indicated by the CAGR of the IoMT market, which is projected to grow at a rate of 23.7% from 2023 to 2032.
Increase in Patient Engagement
With the implementation of IoMT in healthcare industry, patients feel more empowered as they are in full control of dealing with their medical condition. For example, glucose monitors help patients keep track of their diabetes, prompting them to opt for the right diet and lifestyle to alleviate the medical condition. Thus, patients do not face a situation where they learn about their illness at an advanced stage, having no option but to panic about what steps they must take next.
Furthermore, making use of voice support services, patients can access quality healthcare even when they are in a remote location. Thus, they can take an active part in dealing with their ailments, rather than depending on someone to drive them to the hospital for urgent medical support. Atidiv’s voice customer care or outsourced call centre services make sure that the patients’ call for help never goes unheard.
Better Decision Making
The data managed by the integrated systems on IoMT forms part of a huge reservoir of data that can be analysed for better insights into medical conditions. It might sound like a lot of research involving considerable time, but the involvement of AI in the research process has been a game-changer. AI can sift through huge chunks of data and analyse them with a logic system which is not possible to emulate manually. Armed with these new insights, it is but natural that medical professionals will be able to treat patients better than before. Such leaps in medical processes could be crucial for the well-being of an older population (above 65) that is expected to comprise 47% of the total population by 2050.
What Challenges can be Expected with using IoMT?
As with any innovation meant to change the dynamics of an entire industry, IoMT, too, comes with its share of drawbacks. Let’s take a look at some of those.
- Cybersecurity: A humongous 171.1 million data breaches in the US in 2023 points towards a pervasive healthcare data security risk. Patients’ medical data is confidential and data related to it must never be disclosed to third-party entities. It is a big challenge to set up cyber security systems that can effectively deal with threats from hackers. In this regard, it remains to be seen how the healthcare industry responds to the litigations pertaining to data breach filed against it.
- Interoperability: If IoMT equipment are not periodically monitored and upgraded, they might malfunction at crucial moments. Chances of this happening increases when the interoperability of the concerned devices is hampered, i.e. they are no longer compatible with the rest of the connected devices. Dealing with this technological roadblock could be challenging in the initial years when healthcare practitioners are not that acquainted with these technical aspects.
- Training of Users: It is not enough to train healthcare professionals with the use of IoMT. The onus is on the general users to make the fullest use of this technological advancement. At the end of the day, a sizable percentage of the data that IoMT uses comes from the medical check-up of the users themselves. Therefore, a lot of the projected success of IoMT depends on how fast users can adapt to the required technological training.
- Operational Costs: Entrepreneurs investing in the healthcare sector might be wary of the operational costs associated with the implementation of IoMT. Data reveals that 27% and 13% institutions are either planning on the implementation or haven’t implemented IoMT, respectively. If these figures are added, about 40% of the industry has a certain degree of precarity involved with IoMT implementation, mostly considering the huge costs that come with it.
FAQs On Internet Of Medical Things
1. How does the Internet of Medical Things ensure improved efficiency of medical processes?
The IoMT uses an integrated system that gathers patient data from smart devices and processes a combination of such resources and big data. Thus, invaluable new insights on illnesses can be gained, and relevant medical processes expedited to the relief of the patient. Since manual paperwork is largely automated in these processes, healthcare professionals can focus more on patient well-being, thus ensuring consistent efficiency.
2. Is data security something investors in the healthcare industry should be worried about?
Businesses have some reason to worry about data security, but that should not deter them from investing generously in the industry. Sure, the legal quagmire they might face at times might be frustrating, given the increasing number of data breaches in the recent past. However, this roadblock is not unique to the healthcare industry, and the potential revenues to be earned in the near future far outweigh the risks pertaining to data security. That being said, building robust frameworks to foil data breaches is already underway with most businesses, thus promoting accountability in protecting the confidential medical data of patients.
3. How does IoMT enable better decision-making for healthcare professionals?
With AI integrated with IoMT, medical and healthcare professionals are now armed with more meaningful data that can be used to provide improved services to the patients. Access to such information was not possible in the pre-AI times, thus posing an obstacle to faster and more efficient service. The improved decision-making of these professionals can potentially lower the health risks of patients and reduce the number of hospital visits as well.
