Historically, electronic medical devices have operated independently of each other, forcing humans to be the intermediary between them. The rise of the Internet and Wi-Fi communication has changed this, enabling devices to share information seamlessly.
Today, the Internet of Medical Things connects medical devices, medical computers, and software applications to deliver a better care experience to patients around the world.
What is the Internet of Medical Things?
The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is the network of medical devices and applications that rely on the Internet to send and receive data. IoMT includes:
- Remote patient monitoring for patients with chronic or long-term conditions
- Tracking medication orders as they are shipped
- Collecting patient data from wearable health devices
- Connecting emergency services to healthcare facilities as they transport patients
IoMT vs. IoT
It’s essential to understand the distinction between IoMT and the rest of the Internet of Things (IoT). IoT pertains to the network of all internet-connected devices worldwide, and includes everything from Wi-Fi-connected manufacturing machines to autonomous farming equipment that follows a pre-programmed harvesting routine.
IoMT specifically refers to devices used in the healthcare industry, as these devices have additional requirements compared to those used in other sectors. Typically, an IoMT device will have stronger cybersecurity features than others, due to the importance of keeping health information private. Due to operating close to patients' bodies, they must also follow safety regulations such as IEC 60601-1.
Applications for IoMT
The easiest way to categorize IoMT devices is by how they’re used. The most common use cases are on the patient’s body, in the home, hospital, and broader community.
On-Body IoMT
On-body IoMT medical devices come in two sub-categories: consumer health wearables and medical-grade wearables.
Consumer health wearables are devices used by the general public for personal health and fitness. This includes activity trackers, step counters, sports watches, and innovative garments. Health authorities do not regulate these devices, but they are still often recommended by healthcare providers for pursuits such as weight loss.
Medical-grade wearables, on the other hand, are regulated by government agencies like the Food and Drug Administration and are typically used at a provider’s recommendation. For example, glucose monitoring sensors observe a patient’s blood sugar levels, which is critical for those living with diabetes.
Regardless of their origin, on-body IoMT devices are designed to be so small and lightweight that they can be worn comfortably on a person’s body all day long, letting providers monitor their patients more closely.
In-Home IoMT
In-home IoMT devices take the shape of personal emergency response systems, remote monitoring, and telehealth devices. These devices all share a common goal: bridging the physical gap between patients and healthcare providers via digital connections.
Emergency response systems alert EMTs if an emergency occurs, and can be activated manually or if they detect specific parameters (such as a fall). This makes them extremely useful for homebound patients or those with limited mobility.
Remote monitoring is also a popular application for IoMT technology, as it lets patients leave the hospital and return home while still enabling providers to monitor their condition. By placing sensors around the patient’s home to track their condition, healthcare groups can free up beds in the hospital while still keeping an eye on the patient.
Lastly, telehealth devices and services let patients contact providers from the comfort of their home without needing to drive to the hospital or clinic. This is invaluable for patients who live in remote areas or have limited transportation options. With a video consultation, providers can evaluate visual symptoms without ever having to be there in person. This can be done either via a patient’s PC or smartphone or a hospital-issued medical computer tablet.
In-Hospital IoMT
In-hospital IoMT devices include a broad spectrum of devices that manage a hospital’s operations. For example, monitoring equipment like EKG machines and ventilators via IoMT sensors reporting to the hospital’s medical panel PCs helps hospital staff track what equipment is being used where. The same can be done to track the use of consumable items such as bandages, IV bags, and personal protection equipment, giving hospital staff insight into their rate of use and alerting them when they’re running low. IoMT devices can also be used to track both patients and providers, making it easier to locate them in case of an emergency.
Community IoMT
Also known as public IoMT, community IoMT refers to devices that have been dispersed throughout a town or geographical area. This includes point-of-care kiosks set up in rural areas that can dispense medical supplies and connect patients to healthcare providers via the built-in computer. Some kiosks can even include basic medical equipment like thermometers, blood pressure cuffs, and glucose monitors. This gives patients access to healthcare without having to travel for hours to reach a hospital or clinic.
Another application for community IoMT is for emergency services, such as tracking EMT vehicles and assisting first responders. This enables emergency services to react more quickly to incidents, keep them better informed on how to treat victims, and keep them in communication with hospitals ready to receive them.
The Benefits of IoMT
Properly implemented and supported, the Internet of Medical Things can reap a wide range of benefits for healthcare groups. The most important of these benefits are:
Better Patient Outcomes
With IoMT patient monitoring both in the hospital and at home, providers can track a patient’s condition 24/7 without interruption. This gives providers deeper insight into a patient’s recovery, letting them identify potentially hazardous behaviors to correct or contact emergency services if the need arises. In turn, this means patients can recover from their illnesses or be rescued after an injury that much more quickly.
Improved Patient Engagement
The best way to engage with patients when it comes to their health is to put information and resources at their literal fingertips. Whether that means an app on their phone that lets them monitor their heart rate or telehealth appointments with their provider, better-informed patients are often healthier patients.
Greater Accessibility
One of the most pressing issues for the healthcare sector is serving patients in remote or disadvantaged communities. IoMT technology, such as telehealth appointments and patient kiosks, makes it easier for patients in these areas to communicate with healthcare providers and receive treatment.
Lower Costs
By using remote monitoring and telehealth, patients are able to go home early or even avoid a trip to the hospital entirely, which reduces costs to both the patient and the hospital. Doing so also helps free up beds and prevent overcrowding at the hospital, which helps to further lower operating costs for the facility.
Easier Logistics
By using IoMT solutions for medical asset tracking, hospital staff can be better informed of the location of their tools and when they need to order new supplies. This saves staff from having to track down their equipment or deal with supply shortages, leading to an easier and smoother workflow.
Considerations and Challenges for IoMT
Like any new technology, IoMT tools face challenges that healthcare groups must overcome in order to use them effectively. These challenges include:
Regulatory Issues
Any electronic device that shares or stores private health information is tightly regulated by regulations such as HIPAA. IoMT devices and any information they transmit must be thoroughly secured against outside intrusion by using tools like data encryption and access control. This is doubly important due to the second major challenge…
Security and Privacy
Healthcare is one of the most frequently targeted sectors for cybercrime, and IoMT is particularly vulnerable due to its reliance on public internet networks. IoMT devices and their users must follow all best practices for cybersecurity in healthcare, such as encryption protocols, password protection, and more.
Legal Questions
One of the biggest sticking issues for IoMT is the question of data ownership. Is it the patient, the software provider, or the healthcare group that has final say in how that information is stored, used, and disposed of? New laws are required to answer this question and clearly define ownership, rights, and responsibilities regarding IoMT data.
Implementation Costs
IoMT technology can have high upfront costs, especially for healthcare groups that haven’t yet invested heavily in internet-based tools. One way to alleviate this cost is to work with an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), which can customize its computers and tablets to match your specific needs. For example, an OEM can design medical computers with both modern and legacy I/O ports, letting you use both modern IoMT applications as well as your older legacy tools on the same device.
What the Future Holds for the Internet of Medical Things
The growing accessibility of wireless internet and alternative access methods for healthcare means that the Internet of Medical Things will only continue to grow. Now more than ever, patients and providers are open to telehealth as a treatment option, and more than 70% of healthcare organizations around the world use some form of IoMT device.
Discover Cybernet’s IoMT-Ready Computers and Tablets
What is the Internet of Medical Things? It’s a convenient solution for bridging the gap between patients and providers, making healthcare more affordable and accessible in a time when we need that more than ever.
If your healthcare group is looking for computer hardware to support implementing IoMT tools, contact the team at Cybernet Manufacturing. We’d be happy to explore how our medical computers and tablets can support IoMT tools and workflows, as well as how our products can be customized to fit your needs better.