Internet of Medical Things

“The most profound technologies are those that disappear. They weave themselves into the fabric of everyday life until they are indistinguishable from it.”- Mark Weiser

The internet is one such digital fabric that also happens to be the most important and transformative technologies ever invented. We all are integrated into the internet one way or another — from video doorbells and digital assistants to robotic floor cleaners and smart thermostats; IoT devices have infiltrated our lives for the better.

Healthcare seems like it is going to be the next step in this journey of the Internet of Things.

What is IoMT?

IoMT is a global infrastructure consisting of a collection of medical devices and applications, interconnected through information and communication technologies which synchronize data and record them in one place. This data can later be transmitted to the healthcare facilities for further medical purposes.

Allied Market Research predicts that the IoMT market will reach $136.8 billion worldwide by 2021. As of today, 3.7 million medical devices are in use and monitor various parts of the body to better inform healthcare decisions. The Internet of Medical Things refers to the connected system of medical devices and applications that collect the data that is then provided to healthcare IT systems through online computer networks.

Some places where IoMT is currently being used are-

• remote patient monitoring for people with chronic or long-term conditions,
• tracking patient medication orders and location of patients admitted to hospitals,
• a patient’s wearable mHealth (mobile health) devices,
• hospital beds fitted with sensors that measure the patient’s vital signs
• personal emergency response systems that provide fall detection, emergency assistance, and navigation back to the residence.

Wearable devices are constantly monitoring the user’s heart rates and other bodily functions. This becomes a very useful feature, for instance, Benson Hougland (Vice President- Opto 22) was sound asleep when all of a sudden he was awoken due to a sudden aggressive vibration from his smartphone which was connected to his smartwatch. Upon waking up, he saw an alert that his heart rate was rapidly rising. This alert was also sent to the nearby hospital, that then dispatched an ambulance rushing to his home. Upon diagnosis, the doctor informed him that he was about to have a heart attack, but, due to the alert, he was able to get treated in the nick of time, averting the danger.

This shows how valuable IoMT can be in today’s world. So many lives can be saved just like in Benson Hougland case.

Critical value drivers for Healthcare IoT

Throughout the drug lifecycle and the patient journey, a connected healthcare ecosystem could be the answer life sciences companies are seeking to demonstrate value from treatment outcomes. The entire structure of healthcare may change for the better when IoMT is integrated.

1. Accelerating drug development and access to new treatments: If the vast amount of data that is generated by patients is truly connected via an ecosystem, the future pathway of research and development can be altered for the better. Real World Evidence (RWE) is evidence obtained from observational data obtained outside the context of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and generated during routine clinical practice. FDA regulatory decision-making is using RWE to determine the risks and benefits of novel medicines in some FDA approvals of new or follow-on therapies.

2. Improving patient outcomes: Physicians will have a complete picture of their health through an ecosystem that uses diversely connected devices. Healthcare practitioners can now monitor a patient’s health, activity levels and reaction to treatments in real-time. For instance, if a patient with diabetes suffers a hypoglycemic episode, that data is fed by the patient on his/her smartphone which will reflect on the doctor’s records in real-time for immediate action.

3. Supporting patient adherence: Wearables are no longer a luxury; they are a part of our everyday life. Life sciences companies have taken notice and today are looking for more viable and long-term applications for such devices and platforms to advance adherence rates. NHCT has taken a step in this direction by providing an app that incentivizes users to stay fit by providing tokens when an individual meets their daily goals.

IoMT revolutionizing Medical Care

Remote patient monitoring devices enable innovative new ways of tracking a patient’s health. Cloud computing and virtual infrastructure give caregivers real-time information and enable evidence-based treatment.

The internet of things is already beginning to help reduce costs in the healthcare industry. Goldman Sachs estimates there will be a $300-billion savings in annual health care expenditures attributed to IoMT technology. This will keep reducing costs as:

1. IoMT devices allow non-critical patients to be monitored at home, decreasing hospital admissions and reducing unnecessary costs,
2. IoMT technology can monitor and manage the health of expensive medical equipment and significantly improve downtime costs,
3. Real-time location systems provide real-time tracking and management of medical equipment, staff, and patients to improve workflow, reduce costs and increase clinical quality environments,
4. IoMT-enabled technologies like smart packaging and connected drug delivery devices ensure patients adhere to their prescribed medical treatment. By combining smart devices with managed connectivity and the cloud, providers can track adherence and give patient feedback.

It is an amazing feeling to know that we can now just carry on with our daily lives knowing that we never have to worry about keeping a track of our own health. This is possible because our devices do the tracking for us and ensure that our personal doctors receive the essential information on time. Healthcare professionals have begun to rely on IoT to improve care for seniors as well and optimize patient care while also reducing healthcare costs.