The Transformative Role of the Internet of Things in Health Informatics
Published on : Thursday 30-04-2020
The Internet of Things (IoT) technology is already proving its capability in the healthcare industry by delivering improved medical facilities. Whether it is monitoring patients' health using a health monitoring system or telemedicine, IoT has driven these facilities efficiently. The rapid penetration of wearable technology and the surged use of smartphones are creating new opportunities to the growth of IoT. While health care practices majorly rely on patient data, IoT helps turn the data collected into actions.
Health Informatics, which defines as the practice of gathering, analyzing, and managing health data and then applying medical concepts using health information technology, has evolved over decades now. Health informatics takes importance because it ensures everyone is provided with the best possible quality of health care. Since the change in technology paradigms continue increasing and transforming the way we live and work, health informatics is at the juncture to find a complete solution to all its despairs by embracing integrated solution framework based on the internet of things, Big Data, and Complex Even Processing (CEP).
Health informatics has played an essential role in every age of healthcare, including clinical, administrative and economic. Now, the connected ecosystem is crucial for health informatics, as they help collect and process data for informatics.
Patient Knowledge and Shared Knowledge
With technological advancements, both doctors and patients have electronic access to patient data. If someone forgets some things related to their health condition such as what to do and don’t, and when and why, they have access today to connect with their doctor online. Many healthcare portals even offer patient support with various resources where patients can get aware of more about healthy living. They can also communicate with physicians on the portal. Knowledge in informatics may have optimistic outcomes in people’s lives, but what to need that makes it vital is there are constant efforts to build and advance tools that can support this.
Today, we have electronic health report (EHR) systems, which allow physicians to share significant patient information, such as illnesses, medications, therapies, diagnosis, tests and any other relevant information with people. This can help physicians to provide better and quicker care and spend more time with patients. Health informatics enables important health information to be shared all through the chain of care, from the patient to health administrator and pharmacist.
Using IoT devices such as wearable technology also helps health informatics in providing patient information in real-time. IoT devices can augment patient satisfaction by optimizing surgical workflow by informing about patient’s discharge from surgery to their families. It can boost patient engagement by enabling patients to spend more time interacting with their physicians. Moreover, it minimizes the need for direct patient-physician interaction as these devices connected to the internet are delivering valuable data.
So, as the internet of things technology assists in improving patient health, encouraging preventative care, satisfying patients and increasing patient-doctor engagement, it can perform better when implementing with health informatics which makes the possible quality of health care.