INTERNET Of Technology and Healthcare: Benefits of IoMT in the Digital Age

The modern world asks for virtual luxuries, be it for healthcare or for daily life essentials. After facing a major medical pandemic, social distancing has become the need of the hour, and now it is part of the lifestyle. 

This is where concepts like virtual health care come in. Now, most of you would be pondering upon the question of what that actually is. Technologies like the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). 

The Internet of Medical Things connects your daily health report with health providers. With the help of medical devices and Applications. 

The Internet of Medical Things enables a seamless healthcare technology network. With the advanced technology of smartwatches and medical devices, IoMT is changing healthcare. This is while improving patient outcomes and enhancing operational efficiency.

Internet of Things- Innovation or Revelation? 

Do you have a smartwatch on your wrist? 

Any app that monitors your daily health? 

Any smart device that gives you timely alerts?  

Did you give any smart devices to your grandparents to track their health? 

If your answer is ‘YES’ to the above questions, no wonder you are already a user of the Internet of Medical Things. But the fact is you don’t know about it. 

Internet + Things= Internet of Things

In this, ‘INTERNET’ refers to a virtual network that connects you with the world and gives unlimited access to stored data in a cloud, any time or anywhere. 

‘THINGS’ refers to sensors, smart watches, smart devices, and other technology. 

So, The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is a network of medical devices connected to the Internet. Collect, transfer, and analyze health data.

Transforming Healthcare

The IoMT helps in remote patient monitoring, enhancing healthcare infrastructure, collecting real-time health data, sorting future health issues, creating personalized treatment plans for individuals, and many more, which directly favors the health sector.

1. Remote Patient Monitoring- 

Whenever you feel sick, instead of going out and visiting doctors' clinics or hospitals, you can get an online appointment with one of the top doctors in your city and country. Due to this, having medical consultancy becomes easy and feasible anytime, anywhere, along with comfort and flexibility.

2. Real-Time Health Data

The Internet of Things provides real-time data and facts which is available to health providers like doctors and hospitals. Hospitals can easily access medical equipment like ambulances, medical instruments, and medical devices and place them where they are needed the most on the basis of collected data. Doctors can monitor their patient’s health and prescribe them perfect health tips on time.

3. Personalized Treatment Plans- 

If doctors, hospitals, and health providers get real-time data and facts about their patient's health, they can easily make personalized treatment plans that benefit individuals and give adherence to a personalized care system.

The downside of The Internet of Medical Things

Every coin has two sides, the same as the Internet of Medical Things, which has a lot more disadvantages. 

1.  Risks of Cybersecurity.

The biggest advantage of using technology is generating, storing, and transferring data to different systems and parties. Despite the many opportunities for medical devices in healthcare, all of this data is at risk of thieving by virtual fraud. And they can use this data for criminal occupations.

2.  Lead to Bio-war

Health information of any country is crucial and confidential because it decides the economic structure of a country. If the firewall of the Internet of Things is breached, any of the terrorist organizations can use this critical information to create nuisance and terrorism in the country, or might be it will start a bio-war in two countries. 

3.  Incorrect Healthcare Decisions

Cybersecurity risk doesn’t just pertain to the exposure of private data or the ransoms that are sometimes associated with data breaches. The risks related to altered data can have serious consequences. 

Patients and healthcare professionals that are relying on data to make treatment decisions depend on correct and accurate datasets. If data is deleted or altered, it can lead to a wrong diagnosis, treatment plan, or other adverse events, in the worst-case scenario, resulting in serious device malfunction in life-and-death situations.

4.  Lack of Empathy 

Utilizing technology can help keep healthcare professionals and patients connected, even when they are not physically present together. Remote monitoring and telehealth also allow for addressing the clinician shortages that have plagued many countries, including the United States, specifically in remote areas.

However, the way in which technology has become the interface between patients and providers has the potential to cause issues. Without responsible patient/doctor relationship monitoring, the benefits will not outweigh the negative impact of technology in healthcare.

5.  Patients Interact with Technology 

Dealing with dashboards on connected medical devices and computers removes the human touch of treatment, resulting in a lack of empathy toward patient care.

6.  Risk of Miscommunication

Especially for the elderly and the most vulnerable patients, relying on technology as the interface of care can cause confusion and frustration and can result in confusion, treatment plans not being understood properly, or patient non-compliance.

7.  Technology frustrates.

As we continue to discuss the pros and drawbacks of medical technology in healthcare, it brings to mind the popular saying: “Technology is great — when it works.” 80% of Americans have at least one frustrating experience with technology each day, according to a study by Asurion. 

If technology is not improving healthcare – through speed, efficiency, or accuracy – then the continued adoption of technology within healthcare is not likely to last!

Diamonds of The Necklace- IoMT Essentials

Every successful mechanism is the result of the great performance of its components. The Internet of Things also has some components that make it successful and needed for the era.

In-home IoMT

As the name suggests, it allows people to send their medical data from home to health providers, like blood pressure, insulin, and oxygen levels.

On-body IoMT

Consumer on-body IoMT devices track health metrics, providing early indicators of severe conditions. Diabetic patients can wear glucose sensors to monitor levels and share data with doctors for prompt treatment. 

Community IoMT 

It involves deploying IoMT devices across a wider town or geographic area. Mobility services track patients during transportation in a vehicle, while emergency response intelligence systems assist paramedics and first responders in monitoring patient metrics beyond the hospital environment. 

In-hospital and In-clinic IoMT

IoMT devices are used in telehealth and traditional clinic settings for clinical or administrative purposes. 

They allow healthcare professionals to access and interact with patients remotely. Hospitals must manage the supply and quality of medical assets and track how personnel and patients move within their premises. 

This is how The Internet of Things is evolving the world into a better, innovative, safe, and secure place.

Conclusion- Is IoMT the Future of Medical Practices?

Without a doubt, yes. IoMT is the future of medical practices since it offers everything that one can ever need to fulfill one's emergency requirements. People do not have to worry about waiting for the ambulance for a while before things get worse. 

Technology combined with the modern marvels of medication makes for a great problem-solving combination for the health sector.

Even though it has its fair share of downsides, it can be said for sure that things are only going to get better as IoMT progresses in time.

FAQs

Q1. What is the Internet of Medical Things?

The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is a network of medical devices connected to the Internet. Collect, transfer, and analyze health data.

Q2. Types of the Internet of Medical Things?

There are 4 types of the Internet of Medical things on the basis of their use.

1. In-home IoMT

2. On-body IoMT

3. Community IoMT 

4. In-hospital and In-clinic IoMT

Q3.  Is IoMT the Future of Medical Practices?

Without a doubt, yes. IoMT is the future of medical practices since it offers everything that one can ever need to fulfill one's emergency requirements. People do not have to worry about waiting for the ambulance for a while before things get worse. 

Q4. How is it transforming the healthcare industry?

The IoMT helps in remote patient monitoring, enhancing healthcare infrastructure, collecting real-time health data, sorting future health issues, creating personalized treatment plans for individuals, and many more, which directly favors the health sector.