Internet of Things in Healthcare

This report analyzes the use of the Internet of Things (IoT) in the healthcare sector, exploring its benefits, challenges, and future trends. It examines various technologies like closed-loop insulin delivery, activity trackers, connected inhalers, and ingestible sensors, highlighting their impact on patient care. The report also discusses challenges like data privacy, security, and cost, and suggests solutions to mitigate these issues. It concludes by emphasizing the potential of IoT to revolutionize healthcare and improve patient outcomes.

Internet of Things

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Internet of things can be described as utilisation of several electronic devices or software
with connection or network for their own purpose to fulfil requirements. The given report is
based on use of technology in health care sector to gain better results for patients. It has a vital
role in medical field in order to boost up quality of well being facilities to desired individuals.
There are different types of devices, equipments, software or information systems which are
utilised by healthcare organisations in terms of making treatments or diagnosis more effective as
well as efficient. The purpose of this report is to analyse several benefits or possible issues which
can be generated through utilising technology in health care field. Moreover, different kinds of
techniques are adopting by medical sectors such as Openaps – Closed-Loop Insulin Delivery,
Activity Trackers During Cancer, Treatment Connected Inhalers, Ingestible Sensors along with
several information systems including EMR, HIE, ABC, PRO and EDW etc. Additionally,
several problems are also there which are created like growing cost of it in healthcare,
meaningful use compliance, data privacy & regulations, insufficient data storage capacity, minor
faults leads to major problem and learning curve. This assignment has described findings of
implementing technology raising issues including privacy or security which can be reduced by
storing data in Electronic Health Record. It has suggested that problem of technology
connectivity can be solved through rebroadcasting AM frequency for devices and LTE for
mobiles.

Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.............................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
LITERATURE REVIEW .............................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9
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INTRODUCTION
The Internet of Things refers to a network of physical devices, home appliances, vehicles,
and other items connected with electronics, software, sensors, actuators, connectivity etc. It also
include to connect and exchange data through computer based systems which results into desired
outcomes. The utilization of internet of things in health care is helpful in several aspects such as
improving speed of communication which facilitates medical professionals to take an appropriate
action immediately (Kopetz, 2011). Moreover, it provide support to avoid various critical
circumstances of patients by accelerating procedures or treatments and save their rest duration of
life successfully. The present report is based on use of internet things in health care sector to
gain better outcomes on terms of providing effective treatment or convey desired information to
take precautions. It is helpful in making people healthy and aware about several dangerous health
problems along with remaining conscious through applying required steps to maintain their well
being. Moreover, internet plays an important role in this industry including specific applications
such as smart pills, smart home care, personal healthcare, robotics and Real-Time Health
Systems (RTHS). This assignment will focus on several problems of challenges faced by health
care sector while adopting internet services to conduct desired activities or processes on regular
basis.
The internet of things has numerous applications in healthcare industry from remote
monitoring to smart sensors and medical device integration. It is helpful to observe several
mental or violent patients without remaining in their surroundings which is supportive to
employees as well as individuals in order to render peace of heart to them. There are several
examples that can be include like OpenAPS – closed-loop insulin delivery, continuous glucose
monitoring (CGM) system, Connected inhalers, Ingestible sensors, Connected contact lenses,
Depression-fighting Apple Watch app, Coagulation testing etc. At the same time, several
challenges are also created which are required to be faced by hospitals and other related
organizations. The factor of security of medical reports and privacy of patients get affected by
use of internet as relevant system of maintaining records may get hacked by someone (Höller
and et. al., 2014). There are various kinds of issues which created in this industry due to
utilization of electronic software or applications in medical sector that may become critical
sometimes. It is important to observe, analyze and evaluate risks or uncertainties to take
precautions for avoiding problems relevant to the same.
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As per knowledge expressed by Meeta Dash, there are various kinds of challenges are
also generated which may create several problems for patients as well as medical professionals.
Thus, they are required to be observe and analyze previous and remain prepare to sort out such
threats immediately for reducing risks of loss in terms of money or man. Some of thee challenges
are as under –
Challenges of using Technology in Healthcare Sector
Growing Cost of IT in Healthcare – This refers to high expense of technological
aspects which are using in hospitals as per their criteria of applying for achieving benefits. It
include high expenses for an organization as well as patients because such technological
treatments are quite expensive than others (Dash, 2017). Common people are able always to
afford such medications to get rid off their disease. Moreover, these treatments procedures are
more costly than others due to strict regulations of government, growing energy requirements
and pressure to coordinate with insurance need proves to be increasingly expensive to health care
institutions.
Meaningful Use Compliance – Now-a-days, technology is being used almost in every
place in every perspective in hospitals also. Everywhere and everyone is covered under the
technology but what if technology has not used properly or it has of use in that particular area. It
is totally meaningless use of technology. In hospitals, technology is used to record data related to
patients. But, if professionals do not walk in according with meaningful use of procedures will
face severe problems in future like decline in medical reimbursements, hospital dignity etc. One
of the meaningless use of technology is that leaked information of the patients which may cause
disaster to both, hospitals and patients as well (Li, Da Xu and Zhao, 2015).
Data Privacy and Regulations – Data privacy and regulations covers the confidentiality
of the patients in the hospitals. It is the moral duty of hospital to make personal details of the
patient's confidential because it is a very sensitive matter. Sometimes, there is no such big issue
with the patient but when such information leaks, it spreads rumors with it which harms the
dignity of the patient. It can cause major problems to the patients because what if someone use
that personal information in an unethical way. There are numbers of laws that protect the
interests of the patients in such cases in particular how provider share the information.
Regular changes in hardware and technology connectivity – This refers to process of
rapid change in technology which results into creation of various kinds of devices. It creates an
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issues in terms that people are not capable to acquire number of sensors as it is difficult for them.
However, due to facing problem, patients will skip the use of techniques which is reason of
failure of technology in health care industry.
Insufficient Data Storage Capacity – Insufficient data storage causes major problems in
terms of healthcare. For example, every test and each type of detail has been recorded by the
hospital, either of new patients or of 10 years old patients. This require a lot data storage
capacity. To solve this problem, if hospital think that they can delete the old data then this is not
the right choice to attempt because any type of detail can be required at anytime. Hence, This is
requisite to use such technologies i.e. able to support good amount of data (Sheng and et. al.,
2013). Only solution to this problem is that hospital should have enough data storage capacity to
record whole details because it can effect the image of the hospital too.
Minor Faults leads to major problem – Faults occurs so frequently in medical
healthcare which results in major problems. These are the results of carelessness of the team
members which affect even the patient's lives. For example, a medical specialist is doing a test of
a patient using a machine which does not even give right tests but doctor has given prescription
according to that false tests, this might be result in loss of patient life.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Literature review can be refer to a scholarly document that comprises the present
information and knowledge involving substantive outcome along with methodological
contribution to a certain subject. There are various aspects in which technology is beneficial in
medical sector in terms of providing medications, education and other relevant means. It include
several medications and information systems that are utilized by successful health care
organizations to improve effectiveness of their treatment procedures as well as boost up
reputation of the same in among people and government authorities. According to the opinion of
Ben Davis, there are various disease which are solved by utilizing an effective technology and
provide benefits of suffered individuals. Some of examples including technical medications are
explained further -
Openaps – Closed-Loop Insulin Delivery – This can be described as use of an
application which include an artificial pancreas system through it can be controlled by medical
professionals in order to take actions to reduce issues with same (Davis, 2018). In this, people
can hack their system by their own and then use it as an open source software to make desired
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benefits or services. It is useful for diabetic patients mainly as they monitor their continuous
glucose amount to take required precautions to maintain sugar level in body.
Activity Trackers During Cancer Treatment – In this part, several devices are utilised
to track every activity of an individuals in order to know about minor issues such as depression,
fatigue, weakness and other symptoms. It basically provide support to cancer patients while their
treatment get started till the end. However, several chemotherapies are required to be carried out
which has certain side effects on patient as per their immunity of the body. Meanwhile, this
technology is helpful to track their each activity or symptoms along with their physical and
mental situation so that an appropriate steps can be taken for welfare of suffered people.
Connected Inhalers – The utilisation of IOT in medical sector is not much helpful in
diagnosis but to ensure adherence of the same, facilitates to render most accurate services to
people (Mainetti, Patrono and Vilei, 2011). It is necessary in health care field to analyse every
small symptom of an individual. Moreover, connected inhalers are mostly applicable for
asthmatic persons or other relevant problems including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD).
Ingestible Sensors – This can be explained about Proteus digital health whose ingestible
sensors which are utilised to monitor adherence (Liu and Zhou, 2012). Moreover, these are in
form of a pill which dissolves in stomach and generate minor symptom is catches by a sensor
worn on body which facilitate to relay information on Smart phone. Meanwhile, it is observed
that medicines are not actually taken by patients as per direction of physician and the Proteus'
System is just single efforts to reduce the same issue.
Connected contact lenses – This include non– invasive sensors which are embedded
within contact lenses and they may eventually become able to measure glucose levels in diabetic
patients through their tears. Moreover, the information will store in-mobile device which can be
used as per requirement and facilitates to make an appropriate conduct of relevant health issues
of an individual to achieving their fitness.
As per point of views of Dale Sanders, there are five effective as well as efficient
information systems that plays an important role in health care services. It is necessary to make
an appropriate decision to utilise them which are favourable in carrying out regular activities or
procedures of treatment in order to provide better medication to people and make them healthy
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soon (Sanders, 2018). Some of information systems which are efficient in medical field are given
below:
An Electronic Medical Record (EMR) – The EMR can be described as to maintain an
appropriate information system in order to store records of patients including overall data. It
basically invokes to make an effective as well as efficient storage of several pathological and
other relevant information about people which can be used in future such as healthcare status,
treatment, support safe and evidence based care (Vermesan and Friess, 2013).
A Health Information Exchange (HIE) – This can be explained as to a software which
provide support in sharing data of patients across various EMRs. However, it includes to
exchange information through applications to different health care organisation while referring
an individual there for getting desired treatment.
(Source: Sanders, 2018)
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Illustration 1: Accountable Care Organization Software: 5 Critical
Information Systems

An Activity Based Costing (ABC) – The ABC system is considered as much efficient to
measure actual cost by analysing overall set of activities which are required to carried out in case
of particular patient through evaluating their actual health status. It has a role in enabling detailed
and patient specific collection of cost data which facilitates health care organisation to precisely
understand overall expense of production along with revenue margin in capitated payment
models.
A Patient Reported Outcomes (PRO) – This refers to an efficient system which is
capable to gain complete understanding about clinical outcomes as well as quality from
perspective of an individual in order to provide them better medical services. Moreover, it is
considered as an appropriate support to assess clinical outputs, tailored to the patient and their
protocols of diagnosis rather than satisfaction of people (Borgia, 2014).
An Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW) – The EDW can be considered as central
information system which enable overall analysis of gathered information in several systems
including EMR, HIE, ABC and PRO.
Past of Technology in Healthcare
The beginning of adopting technology in health was started in terms of applying small
changes in health care organisations. It basically include tools and other related factors which are
helpful to gain an appropriate result. According to view point of Larry Grandia, there are certain
drivers who are responsible for influencing implementation of technology in medical field to
ensure better quality of diagnosis. Some of them are given below with invention period –
1960s – In this era, the beginning of technology get started in terms of Medicare and
Medicaid as well as IT drivers which were more costly frameworks & storage (Grandia, 2018).
However, at that time, computers and storage equipments were much large in size and expensive
too due to hospitals used to share mainframe. For example, health care organisations shared
accounting system between them.
1970s – In early 1970s, introduction of job communication systems occurred which was
useful to make conversation within different departments. It include several techniques such as
ADT, order communications, and results review. It also involved technology in pharmacy and
clinical lab for improving services and computers become much small as they can fitted in
departments along with invention of transactional systems.
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1980s – The period of 1980s focus on technology on DRGs (Diagnosis Related Group)
and reimbursement. Earlier, hospitals needs to gain data of clinical and accounting from
information system but in 1980s, introduction of personal computers, widespread, non-
traditional software applications and network solutions etc.
1990s – In this decade, it is observed that competitions and consolidation generates needs
of health care institutions so that they utilise more efficient technology. Moreover, creation of
integrated delivery network (IDN)-like integration including the impetus to integrate data and
reporting takes place.
2000s – In this era, the integration and outcome based reimbursement which results into
invention of various techniques and bedside applications to make serious run at commercial and
build real decisions through support in clinical aspects (Aijaz and Aghvami, 2015).
The above mentioned technologies used previously in healthcare sector that used to
facilitate new and innovative ideas to make better techniques or software for achieving desired
results with accuracy because accurate outcomes were must in medical sector.
Present of Technology in Healthcare
In current trends, verifying is carried out with help of using different types of
technologies in order to fulfil actual desires. There are various kinds of options of techniques to
conduct single tasks and required to select the best one for attaining desired outputs. It includes
several kinds of technological aspects which are useful in healthcare field in order to render
better medications to people for making them healthy or fit. Moreover, it involves electronic
health record - Health, Telemedicine/telehealth, Portal technology, Self-service kiosks, Remote
monitoring tools, Sensors and wearable technology, Wireless communication,
Pharmacogenomics/genome sequencing and so on. Additionally, rapid innovation in technology
is taking place in form of biotechnology with several useful aspects of making better medicines
or injections which should be easily affordable as well as usable by people to gain desired
outcomes for getting healthy by removing their health problem (Bao and Chen, 2012).
As per above description about utilisation of various technological software, applications
and tools in health care sector along with related challenges. It is analysed that technology should
be applied by every medical institutions as it is beneficial for health industry and facilitates to
reduce critical disease properly. Thus, it is are required to remain careful from problems which
may raise as the time if using technology and put efforts to avoid the same appropriately.
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The major issue of utilizing technology in medical sector is to maintain privacy or
security of people. As per view of Stephen O'Connor, it has been founded that several techniques
are helpful in reducing this problem such as taking several steps to secure information and other
relevant data so that it could not leaked. However, in order to include properly trained staff by
ensuring their knowledge about cyber security protocols, health care organization can avoid
rapid software updates and implement application to control access to protected data of patient
by storing information in EHR system (Connor, 2018). Meanwhile, EHR stands for Electronic
Health Record which is an electric version of patients medical history and maintained by
including demographics, progress notes, problems, medications and many more.
The used of different technologies are beneficial in medical industry as they helps to
improve accuracy of diagnosing results. Moreover, it is necessary for several techniques such as
robotics, genomics, wearable sensors etc. which requires appropriate connectivity to use the
same properly. Reliable and secure network connectivity is essential for patient safety and
clinicians' capability to conduct desired activities or procedures. For example, MRI machines or
microwave ovens can conflict with other network signals which are required to be solved. Thus,
it is identified that hospitals should ensure about their access points and rebroadcasting AM
frequency for devices and LTE for mobiles rather than broadcasting. These are the best and most
suitable methods to resolve the emerged issues and apply the practices in healthcare sector more
significantly.
CONCLUSION
The above report conclude that internet of things refers to network of physical devices
with electronics, software and connectivity to fulfill actual requirements in proper manner in
order to gain desired outcomes. It include several use of technology in health care which are
required to be adopted for improving accuracy of medications as well as monitoring unconscious
or non- cooperative patients easily. There are several kinds of technologies are utilized in current
trends which has certain challenges also such as privacy or security of individual, expensive
Learning Curve, Insufficient Data Storage Capacity and many more which are required to be
analyze so that they can be solved immediately. Moreover, past and present work of technology
in medical is mentioned which provide support to generate fresh ideas in terms of producing new
innovative technique. This will facilitates to improve medications and several critical disease can
be reduced from society in an appropriate manner.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Kopetz, H. (2011). Internet of things. In Real-time systems(pp. 307-323). Springer, Boston, MA.
Höller, J. and et. al., (2014). From machine-to-machine to the internet of things (pp. 1-331).
Cambridge: Academic Press.
Li, S., Da Xu, L., & Zhao, S. (2015). The internet of things: a survey. Information Systems
Frontiers, 17(2), 243-259.
Sheng, Z. and et. al., (2013). A survey on the ietf protocol suite for the internet of things:
Standards, challenges, and opportunities. IEEE Wireless Communications, 20(6), 91-98.
Mainetti, L., Patrono, L., & Vilei, A. (2011, September). Evolution of wireless sensor networks
towards the internet of things: A survey. In Software, Telecommunications and
Computer Networks (SoftCOM), 2011 19th International Conference on (pp. 1-6).
IEEE.
Vermesan, O., & Friess, P. (Eds.). (2013). Internet of things: converging technologies for smart
environments and integrated ecosystems. River Publishers.
Borgia, E. (2014). The Internet of Things vision: Key features, applications and open
issues. Computer Communications, 54, 1-31.
Aijaz, A., & Aghvami, A. H. (2015). Cognitive machine-to-machine communications for
Internet-of-Things: A protocol stack perspective. IEEE Internet of Things Journal, 2(2),
103-112.
Bao, F., & Chen, I. R. (2012, September). Dynamic trust management for internet of things
applications. In Proceedings of the 2012 international workshop on Self-aware internet
of things (pp. 1-6). ACM.
Liu, Y., & Zhou, G. (2012, January). Key technologies and applications of internet of things.
In Intelligent Computation Technology and Automation (ICICTA), 2012 Fifth
International Conference on (pp. 197-200). IEEE.
Online
Internet of things in Healthcare: applications, benefits and challenges. 2018. [Online]. Available
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Davis. B., 2018. 10 examples of the Internet of Things in healthcare. [Online]. Available
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<https://www.adsc.com/blog/strengthen-your-ehr-data-security-with-these-4-tips>
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