The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is a set of medical devices and applications that connect IoT devices with the medical system. Medical Systems and devices equipped with Wi-Fi allow machine-to-machine communication. However, only this is not the basis for it. Internet of Medical Things system links with cloud platforms on which the collected data recites and analyzed.
IoMT is known as Healthcare IoT in general terms. Healthcare IoT devices integrate with smart IoT Applications and produce information automatically which then benefits the user.
One of the major benefits for the user is that they do not have to visit the hospital for minor problems. This reduces the burden of the healthcare system. Patients can transfer their medical data to their physicians over a secure network.
As per the reports, the global IoMT market was $22.5 billion in 2016. However, it’s expected to cross $100 billion by 2021. The IoMT concept is rapid growing at a compound rate of 25% or above per year.
An example of IoMT includes Remote Patient Monitoring (telemedicine). This remote patient monitoring technology can acquire the medical data of patients from anywhere around the globe. However, this requires patients to wear IoMT wearables inbuilt with sensors to detect and notify the problems.
Different services evolve along with the IoMT. Some of the major IoMT services include On-Body Segment, In-Home Segment, In-Clinic Segment, and In-Hospital Segment.
Here is a summary of IoMT services.
On-Body Segment
On-Body Segment services include the facility of telemedicine. Different devices, such as patient health wearables and medical-grade wearables, allow On-Body Segment services. However, On-body service improves the facility of telemedicine in developing countries.
Patient health wearables include consumer-grade devices such as activity tracking bands, wristbands, watches, and smart garments. Medical authorities do not regulate these devices, but they do generate useful medical information.
Different companies operating in the telemedicine sector include Fossil Group, Fitbit, and Samsung Medical. They provide verities of devices for tracking different aspects of human health in real-time.
For example, smartwatches possess different features to measure heart rate, body temperature, and calorimeter. Likewise, other wearables can measure blood pressure and distance tracker. This simple data is also useful for medical information and helps the doctor to prescribe as per the data.
In-Home Segment
This Segment includes “Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS),” “Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM),” and Telehealth Virtual Visits. The patient can achieve all these services sitting at home without visiting the hospital.
PERS integrates wearable device to relay data to the physician. This service also provides call services online, if necessary, to get recommendations from the medical personal. PERS also allows users to communicate and attain emergency medical care quickly.
RPM includes all home automation, monitoring devices, and sensors that help in diagnosing chronic disease. However, RPM also involves continuous monitoring of physiological and physical parameters to support long-term care in the user’s home.
One of the fine uses of RPM is for continuous observation of discharged patients. Similarly, the use of RPM prevents re-hospitalization and helps in fast recovery. RPM also provides remainders to the user from time to time to take medicine.
In-Clinic Segment or In-Hospital Segment
On-Clinic Segment uses clinic administration in the telehealth for clinical functions to serve the patients. Different point-of-care devices can monitor the patient either in the clinic or through telehealth. Different Cloud-based platforms are available for telehealth or On-Clinic Health facility.
The on-Hospital Segment contains the involvement of IoMT-enabled devices and a large group of solutions in different management areas. Areas include asset management, Personnel management, Patient flow management, Inventory management, and Environment and energy monitoring.
In some cases, both On-Clinic and On-Hospital Segment possess the same functions. However, their scale is different from one another. The monitoring in hospitals is way greater than that of the clinic. But both services provide equal support apart from their respective scale.
Future of the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT)
As per the global perspective, above 60% of the healthcare organization has already implemented IoMT. The growth rate is not yet defined as top telemedicine companies are encouraging others to do the same. The defined scope is less than the achievement which the telemedicine solutions have gained already.
The future holds great possibilities like telemedicine in rural areas along with the increase in telepsychiatry companies.