Healthcare IoT is at the eye of a medical “Catch-22.” Because technological developments benefit medicine and the Internet of Things is central to such benefits, technology in medicine is expanding. But as IoT devices multiply, so do varying weaknesses which can allow hackers to exploit a given clinic.
It’s hard enough to remain in legal compliance, but the truth is no matter how compliant you are, some hacker is going to find a way around any security solution eventually. So, IoT is fundamentally necessary to modern medicine, but using it undermines the security of operations and can lead to compliance issues if left unchecked. The key is finding vulnerabilities and either patching them or properly guarding against them. As you’re moving to sell your IoT services to potential clients, you’ll want to identify potential vulnerabilities and provide clients the tools to overcome such issues before they arise.
Advantages
Healthcare IoT saves time, money, and ultimately, lives. Consider this: an X-ray device or an MRI machine can instantaneously transmit findings to a tablet held by a professional. Your clients don’t need to pay for additional connecting cords and additional monitors and desktops aren’t needed— the machine communicates wirelessly with available devices. This means medical professionals can easily recommend treatment in dire cases. Additionally, automatic storage protocols can immediately, securely, and simply file test findings as they’re delivered, saving more time. Medical staff can be reduced, conserving thousands of dollars annually. When test time and costs are reduced, more cutting-edge technology can be acquired.
Applying Such Solutions
Harmoniously inducing a successful IoT roll-out may take a little bit of time for prospective clients. Sometimes, the best way to do it is to do it sequentially. Some extremely considerable IoT advantages include:
- Information collection and dissemination
- Distributed processing via edge computing
- New means of information utility
- Increased competitive advantage
Information Collection and Dissemination
Sometimes, a disease can be prevented from developing into a full-blown epidemic simply by recognizing what’s going on, identifying inciting factors, and preventing those factors from spreading. IoT devices can be used in this way, especially in a medical institution where there are multiple patients in a single wing. IoT can do this through monitoring vitals of patients and providing itemized data describing transitions. If they can look at the information and find the exact moment a patient’s heart rate, temperature, and respiration makes a shift, they can go through the rest of the system and figure out what initiated it. IoT information collection and dissemination provides more tools to reduce spreading disease.
Distributed Processing Via Edge Computing
Cloud computing has changed the face of technology, and that has trickled down to IoT applications as well. Edge computing basically uses IoT devices the same way cloud computing uses servers. With the cloud, servers are put together in an array which distributes processing across the server network. Edge computing does the same thing but uses IoT devices instead. A hospital with numerous IoT devices can apply edge computing solutions for expedited secure operations.
New Means of Information Utility
Sometimes, it’s important to take a step back in order to see things from a new perspective. If you’re always operating from the same spot, you’ll always have the same perspective. With IoT, it’s possible to step back and get a fuller, more detailed perspective of information ebb and flow. Your clients will be able to see where “eddies” and “pools” of data are going around in a circle when they should be flowing “up” or “down” stream. Without IoT, they may not be able to see these things. Again, the chief advantage of the IoT is data collection. Now that there are more points processing information, the picture just keeps getting clearer.
Increased Competitive Advantage
IoT devices are expanding— in fact, they already outnumber humans. By 2024, it’s expected that they’ll outnumber people 3 to 1. IoT gives your clients just the right edge they need to be competitive today.
Upgrading Operations
Healthcare IoT saves time, money, and lives through data dissemination and availability. By promoting the benefits above to your healthcare clients, you’ll be able to successfully market your services and help save the lives of patients everywhere.