Understanding the Importance of IoT in Boosting Telehealth Services

The Internet of Things(IoT) comes with various advantages in telehealth services, such as quick reporting and monitoring, sending real-time tracking and alerts, and providing assistance with remote medical care.

FREMONT, CA: Over the past few years, telehealth, or remote health care, has grown rapidly. People are opting for virtual doctor's visits more than ever, making medicine more attainable than ever. Telehealth could be transformed by the Internet of Things (IoT). In the U.S., telehealth was considered for less than 1 percent of total healthcare capacity before COVID-19. Over 70 percent of physicians are now motivated to use it more, and 75 percent say it helps them deliver better care. This virtual care could be further enhanced by using IoT devices. Some of these possibilities are explained below:

Monitoring of patients remotely: Medical professionals can monitor patients remotely using IoT to enhance telehealth services. Using wearables, doctors can monitor heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature in real-time. Without an in-person check-up, doctors can get a more comprehensive picture of a patient's health.

Healthcare accessibility could be greatly enhanced by this real-time remote monitoring. Although Medicare now covers telehealth services, many patients still have to make in-person visits for tests like blood pressure. Patients with limited mobility, tight schedules, or health concerns can get help from wherever they are with the help of wearables.

Alerts in case of emergency: Wearable health devices can also monitor patients' health factors and alert people when something unusual is detected. These alerts could also be sent to doctors and other medical professionals. Improved outcomes will also result from faster treatments. In addition to gadgets like Life Alert, wearables could automatically contact emergency services. In addition, they could address a broader range of issues. As technology advances, the types of data these devices can detect will naturally increase.

Reminders about medications: IoT could notify patients when they should take their medication on a less urgent note. People with prescriptions for chronic conditions don't consume their doses or take them when they should. Wearable medical devices could keep track of medication schedules for patients, so they don't have to. It reminds people of the time to take a specific medication and how much to take. It is even possible to use sensors to detect if someone has missed taking a dose and convey that information to their primary care provider.

As IoT technology advances, new possibilities for telehealth may emerge. In place of just reminding people to take their medication, wearables can deliver it by injecting the correct dosage at the right time using microscopic needles. Several insulin pumps already do this, and new wearables could expand the concept to treat a variety of conditions and medicines. With the advancement of IoT technologies, doctors may be able to perform some operations remotely in the future. The use of robotics could allow individuals to receive care from top surgeons anywhere in the world. Keeping these devices in medical centers could improve global access to quality medical care, even though they won't be found in homes.