INTERNET OF THINGS IN HEALTHCARE TODAY

Learn more about Henry Schein’s solutions provider by calling your local representative or visiting HenryScheinSolutionsHub.com.

Discover. Connect. Transform.Learn more about Henry Schein’s solutions provider by calling your local representative or visiting HenryScheinSolutionsHub.com.

Discover. Connect. Transform.

Learn more about Henry Schein’s solutions provider by calling your local representative or visiting HenryScheinSolutionsHub.com.

Discover. Connect. Transform.

One of those “buzz phrases” that is been tossed around a lot lately is “Internet of Things,” or IoT. The IoT is being utilized in some of the most influential industries in our society from energy to finances, and even healthcare. It is imperative for providers to be aware of the IoT and how it can be used to improve patient health outcomes because its use in healthcare is only expected to grow. In this eBook, we will explore the Internet of Things, starting by discussing exactly what the IoT is. From there we’ll look at how the IoT works, what industries are already seeing an impact from the IoT, how the IoT can be used in healthcare, along with how it relates to wearables and smart health devices, before finishing with a look at the future of IoT.

introduction

Essentially, the Internet of Things is made up of a variety of devices that are all connected to the internet as well as, potentially, each other. Any device that can be turned on and off and connected to the internet has the potential to be a part of the IoT. This includes items you would expect, such as smartphones and wearable devices, as well as devices that might be surprising such as headphones, coffee makers, and other appliances. It is estimated by the analyst firm Gartner that by 2020 there will

be over 26 billion devices connected through the IoT. This is possible thanks to inexpensive processors and ubiquitous wireless networks allowing for most items to be enabled as smart devices in order to connect. Truly, any device can be an IoT device as long as it can be connected to the internet and controlled in that manner. From lightbulbs to washing machines, if it can be controlled remotely, such as from your smartphone or a home hub, it’s an IoT device.

what is the internet of things

There is the high level way of explaining how the IoT works and the more detailed way. Let’s look at both. At a high level, the IoT works because a group of devices that have built in sensors are connected to a platform where the data from these different devices are integrated and analyzed in order to address needs. The platforms that these devices connect to are able to determine what information is needed and what information can be discarded. The useful information can then be utilized to identify patterns, recommend needed actions, and proactively identify issues. All of this allows for task automation for purposes ranging from your smartphone or a home hub, it’s an IoT device.

To dig in a little deeper, any Internet of Things system is made up of four separate components; sensors or devices, connectivity, data processing, and a user interface. The process begins with a sensor or a device that contains one or more sensors. The job of these sensors is to collect data from the surrounding environment or, in the case of a wearable, the individual wearing the device.

Next, that data is sent to the cloud through one of a variety of means of connectivity including WiFi, bluetooth, cell data, satellite, or a low-power wide-area network (LPWAN). Once the data arrives in the cloud, some form of software processes that data to gain knowledge about the environment or individual from which it was gathered, in order to determine if there are any actionable insights about which to alert the device’s user. This is where the user interface comes in, as that is where the conclusions that have been drawn from the data are made available to the user. In some cases, the interface may suggest that the user takes an action of some kind and in other cases, the device will automatically take the necessary actions based on predetermined preferences. Additionally, the process can also work in the reverse order in that the user can visit the interface to prompt an action in the IoT device. In this case, that prompt would be processed and sent to the device where the appropriate action would be carried out.

how does IoT work?

There are a number of industries that have already implemented the Internet of Things for a variety of reasons and they are already seeing the benefits to be realized from this level of connectivity and automation. One example is the communication industry. It is estimated that just over half of all communications companies use the Internet of Things in some capacity in their processes. Usually communications companies utilize audio devices and smartphones for their connection to the IoT for a variety of purposes, most commonly preventive maintenance of their facilities and networks and increasing employee productivity. Additionally, about a third of communications companies are utilizing visual analytics in an attempt to better understand and predict customer behavior.

Energy is another industry that is using the IoT to its benefit. The Internet of Things is perfect for the energy industry because a lot of energy companies have a number of remote locations such as oil and gas fields within their organization, and these locations require constant monitoring. Staffing for this monitoring, however, can be costly. It’s much more cost effective as well as efficient to utilize camera-mounted drones to keep an eye on these locations and notify company officials if there is anything out of sorts. In addition to monitoring remote locations, energy companies are also utilizing IoT connected machines and robots for the purposes of asset performance, boosting efficiency, and enhancing the customer experience.

Finally, the financial services industry has been impacted through implementing the Internet of Things. This is an industry that has to be incredibly conscious of security, and for that reason they use a lot of cameras and visual sensors in their facilities. More than half of all financial services organizations are utilizing the Internet of Things in their companies, most of them employing visual analytics through the use of connected cameras and visual sensors to enhance their security, while some are also using the IoT to improve their network connectivity.

what industries are already seeing an impact from the internet of things?

• Turning data into action by not only objectively collecting and measuring data, but also analyzing it and determining how best to improve health outcomes.

• Improving patient health by catching diseases at an earlier stage, more seamlessly implementing patient health data into the practice’s EMR, and allowing wearables and smart health devices to act as at home monitoring and medical adherence tools.

• Promoting preventive care by giving providers access to accurate, current data on each patient’s health status in order to determine what preventive care would be necessary and then also facilitating better communication so that providers can alert patients to the preventive care they need.

• Enhancing patient engagement and satisfaction by optimizing workflows and providing more opportunities for patient and provider communication.

• Advancing care management by providing a greater amount of patient health data to physicians, providing for more specific treatment plans, while also using improved communication between provider and patient to allow for better care of the patient even when they are at home.

• Advancing population health management by allowing providers to use the data they receive from wearables to identify patterns among populations of patients and allow those patterns to inform better care for those patient groups.

• Each of these benefits will ultimately lead to the best possible benefit in the healthcare industry which is improved patient outcomes. This is the aim of essentially every current regulatory and payment program in the healthcare industry today, so it is clear to see how the Internet of Things can play an important role in success in this industry.

The IoT is already being employed to a degree in healthcare, but there are a large number of benefits that can be expected as IoT use in healthcare becomes more widespread, including:

how can the internet of things be used in healthcare?

Quite simply, wearables such as fitness trackers and smartwatches, along with other smart health devices, are a part of the Internet of Things. These are the devices that contain the sensors that gather the information that is sent to the cloud and analyzed to produce actionable insights. Without these devices, the IoT cannot be nearly as effective in the healthcare industry. Using such devices however, along with the power of the IoT, allows providers to learn more about their patients, provide better quality care, and see improved patient health outcomes. Integrating wearables and smart health devices to your practice’s workflow is essential to seeing the benefits possible with the Internet of Things.

how does the internet of things relate to the use of wearables and other smart health devices?

The future of the Internet of Things is one of expansion and innovation. To begin with, it is estimated that there will be more than 21 billion devices connected through the IoT by 2025. This is outstanding, particularly when you consider that in 2016 there were a little under 5 billion devices connected. This means that the number of connected devices is expected to quadruple in less than a decade.

Another expected advancement is a greater emphasis on artificial intelligence. Many homes are already beginning to utilize home hubs, lighting systems, thermostats, and the like to collect data on habits and learn the patterns of how these devices are used. This learning is only going to increase and become more useful, with these devices essentially allowing our homes to learn how we like to live our lives and then helping us automate what used to be menial tasks.

The growth of the IoT in the coming years will be partially fueled by the advent of 5G networks. Some wireless carriers have already rolled out 5G and those who haven’t will be soon. These faster networks allow for greater connectivity which will make the IoT more efficient and attractive, allowing it to work better and drawing new users and devices in.

As connectivity expands, security can become a concern. But another expected improvement in the coming years is that routers will become even more secure in order

to block unauthorized access to these devices. This is particularly important in order to prevent cybercriminals from learning as much about our habits and patterns of living as our devices have.

Finally, the future of the Internet of Things involves the normalization of the IoT. Currently there is still a sense of novelty around this type of connectivity. That will be going away. As devices become less expensive they will also become more commonplace. This will be game-changing not only for individuals but also for businesses as they will be accustomed to the ability to quickly and easily see real-time insights on every facet of their organization. As the Internet of Things grows, manually seeking information will become a thing of the past and everyone, from individuals to boardrooms full of executives, will become accustomed to being automatically alerted to what they need to know when they need to know it. Essentially, it’s very unlikely that the IoT is going anywhere, and far more likely that it will become an ever greater part of our lives as the years go on.

what is the future of the internet of things

...it is estimated that there will be more than 21 billion devices connected through

the IoT by 2025.

It is clear that we are living in a heavily connected society. Smart devices are becoming the norm and their costs are dropping so that they are more accessible than ever. The Internet of Things is only going to grow, and the impacts it has already had on industries such as energy, communication, and finance will be seen in our everyday lives, in healthcare, and beyond. While this can feel intimidating, as most new innovations do, with increasing security measures it is something to be optimistic about because of its ability to allow for actionable insights and increased efficiency. Quite simply, it is time to harness the power of the Internet of Things and enjoy the benefits.

conclusion

Learn more about Henry Schein’s solutions provider by calling your local representative or visiting HenryScheinSolutionsHub.com.

Discover. Connect. Transform.