With uses and care pathways in full evolution, IoT is taking a major place in the daily life of patients. Diabetes, blood pressure monitors, teleconsultation, remote patient monitoring: connected health connected health is speeding up patient care and follow-up, thanks to more reliable data collection than ever before. While the business models of the sector’s players have yet to be defined and the issues fully understood, connected healthcare is already meeting with massive approval from patients and caregivers.
Medical IoT: all connected objects at the service of people
Connected technologies meet a multitude of use cases. The data collected by the sensors helps coordinate healthcare organizations, but also allows for better patient tracking. Diabetes monitoring, in particular, is made easier by sensors, blood pressure monitors and connected medical devices. Teleconsultation , for its part, improves treatment follow-up and prevention.
The IoT also facilitates care in emergency situations and speeds up interventions. From a technological point of view, these systems must relieve caregivers of a constraining part of their daily work, without neglecting the human component. The IoT should also facilitate dialogue, exchange and access to healthcare technologies, while limiting consultation costs for industry players.
Connected objects in the field of health to optimize diagnosis
Connected devices have another key role: to speed up and make diagnoses more reliable. Data collection devices allow for real-time patient monitoring, retrieving valuable data and drawing comprehensive and reliable conclusions.
By improving the flow of information between emergency departments and caregivers, data collection devices help to achieve positive changes in care, as they limit consultation costs while improving follow-up.
Patients, whether or not they are at risk, are thus effectively monitored over time. As vectors of innovation, sensors in connected objects are highly accurate, providing quality data for informed diagnosis.
Connected objects and remote assistance
The new uses linked to data make it possible to envisage a more mobile follow-up. Connected devices and remote patient monitoring ease the burden on caregivers to consult and provide valuable assistance to frail patients.
Alert systems, preventive information, numerical indicators in case of emergency treatment: at every stage, the IoT guarantees better monitoring and complete compliance with treatments.
The effect is just as beneficial for patient health as it is for the capacity of healthcare institutions: connected medical devices are indeed vectors of anticipation and make it possible to manage a large part of the needs remotely. In this way connected healthcare, which enables patients to be monitored remotely combines innovation and prevention, while offering patients a satisfying experience.
Connected health and remote assistance: connected objects for the elderly
Connected health is now a precious ally for seniors, who can keep their independence for longer thanks to the latest innovations. Monitoring equipment and fall sensors, for example, can be used to alert a remote assistance service if necessary. They can even save their owners’ lives by speeding up the intervention of emergency services! An intelligent pill dispenser helps ensure compliance with medication. These are just a few examples of innovation in connected healthcare, in EHPAD and at home.
What is teleassistance?
Today’s technologies enable elderly people to contact their health teleassistance service using a simple box. The operator on duty can quickly assess the situation. If there is no emergency, he or she may decide to warn the family or friends, or to request rapid intervention.
These systems use the latest detection technologies to provide an alert in case of a problem. In this way, they help seniors to stay in their homes as long as possible and to maintain their habits in a familiar environment.
Connected objects for the elderly: uses and examples
Connected health systems are preventive tools for seniors, enabling them to remain fully independent for longer. A simple necklace can conceal a box that connects you to a health tele-assistance hotline capable of dealing with whatever the problem may be.
A remote operator will be able to talk to the elderly person and decide on the urgency of an intervention. A fall detector will alert a trusted member of the family so that he or she can go to the scene, or call the emergency services directly if the family is too far away.
Sensors can also be used to detect unusual movement: if an elderly person wanders beyond a defined area, it will be possible to find them quickly. This feature is particularly useful if the user is no longer able to find his or her way home.
The intelligent pill dispenser provides independent notification of the time to take medication, preventing the frequent forgetfulness of senior citizens. A sensor built into a watch can facilitate prevention by measuring heart rate and other biological parameters. The treating physician can easily adjust the treatments according to the readings.
Seniors can stay in their own homes longer, thanks to these smart appliances. In this way, they preserve their habits and quality of life, by delaying the time when home care is no longer possible. The benefits of these modern tools are also being felt in specialist facilities, which are increasingly inclined to deploy connected health tools for EHPAD.
What is the IoMT?
This is theInternet of Medical Things, or health in general.