1. How the Internet of
Things is Impacting
Healthcare
Joel Landau
www.JoelLandau.com

2. INTRO
A man with a heart condition must regularly
track his pulse, blood pressure and other daily
activity. An implanted device in his body
accomplishes this from the comfort of his
home and with minimal management. If the
numbers look concerning, the device sends a
message to his smartphone as well as to his
physician. The cause — too much fast-paced
walking — is diagnosed and fixed with no
intervention. Throughout the entire process,
the patient remains at home, never needing to
pay an in-person visit to his doctor. No direct
medical attention is ever needed. He is,
therefore, spared the stress of transportation,
waiting times, and unnecessary additional
tests. This ideal medical situation is a
becoming a common one among all types of
patients and is made possible by the Internet
of Things (IoT).

3. The Internet of Things — i.e., the web-enabled
connection of everyday devices — has become
increasingly common. Voice commands,
automation and electronic interactions can
accomplish daily functions that usually
require manual human labor, from vacuuming
the floor, sending emails, adjusting
thermostats, or using Google. In 2011, before
the smartwatch and fitness tracker entered
the commercial market, the number of
internet-connected devices worldwide
outnumbered the people who possessed
them. By 2020, the Federal Trade Commission
predicts that there will be 50 billion internet-
connected devices ranging from cars to
toasters to pet monitors, cameras and many
others. By 2021, Tractica predicts that
wearable devices will surpass 97.6 million.
The IoT’s prominence in our society is only
going to increase.

4. The IoT has had a particularly
profound impact on healthcare, as has
been demonstrated by The Allure
Group. In July 2018, Allure became the
first Brooklyn-based skilled nursing
facility to implement EarlySense, a
remote monitoring system that tracks
patients’ vital signs and movements
courtesy of sensors placed under
mattresses and pillows.Since its
introduction at the Bedford Center —
one of six facilities in the Allure
network — EarlySense has correlated
to widespread results showing a 45%
reduction in patient falls, a 60%
reduction in bedsores, and an 80%
reduction in code blue events.
Bringing the IoT into medicine results
in patient care that is better, safer
and simpler. From medical device
implantation to smart sensors, the IoT
can expedite the delivery of
healthcare, allowing physicians to
spend less time on logistics and more
time treating conditions and
consulting with patients. The IoT is
already making a positive impact on
medical care in several ways.

5. How the IoT is Already Part of
Healthcare:
Communication through smart
devices reduces in-person visits and
lets patients manage their care from
home. The IoT allows care providers
to track factors like sleep, heart
rate, temperature, physical activity
and blood pressure, to name a few.
As with the hypothetical patient
above, alerts are sent to both
patients and providers when there is
cause for concern, allowing for fast
and convenient treatment. Devices
such as Audemix help reduce the
manual work that usually goes into
charting patient data. Powered by
voice commands, it captures
information and makes it
immediately accessible for review,
ultimately saving about 15 hours per
week for the physician.

6. Hearing aids are now connected to
Bluetooth technology, letting
patients easily adjust levels to suit
their specific ears. Ingestible, pill-
sized sensors made by companies
like Proteus Digital Health monitor
medications in the body. Moodables
are headpieces that monitor brain
waves to combat depression.
Computer Vision technology
combined with drones and artificial
intelligence (AI) help the visually
impaired navigate physical
obstacles. Contact lenses can now
help monitor blood sugar for
diabetes patients. Smart Fridge by
Weka ensures that vaccines are
stored at the right temperatures,
streamlining the process for
providers and analyzing trends to
improve vaccine programs. Smart
inhalers are being developed by
companies such as Novartis,
Qualcomm and Propeller Health to
help patients of asthma, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD), and other lung conditions.
The list goes on. The IoT is rapidly
improving medical technology,
easing the strain on doctor and
patient alike. The list goes on.

7. Data Collection, Reporting & Monitoring
Before computers entered the healthcare scene, collecting
patient data, storing it safely, and monitoring it took a lot of
manual labor. Now, IoT technology can collect data and deliver it to
the provider no matter where they are, what time it is, and what
devices they use to read it. The IoT’s improvements to reporting can
save lives. Spotting problems in real-time allow for quicker and more
effective treatment. Reporting emergencies through mobile apps
allow medics to get information faster and provide higher quality
care before the patient arrives at the hospital. Due to remote
monitoring of heart failure, the Center of Connected Health Policy
reported a reduction in readmission rates by 50 percent within 30
days. Medical devices connected through Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and other
technology send data to both the patient and physician. Providers
can access final reports and graphs to determine a conclusion for
treatment. Data collection in this form can speed up the decision-
making process and significantly reduce human errors. Platforms like
Kaa (KaaIoT Technologies), Azure (Microsoft), MindSphere (Siemens),
and others are improving the way medical data is collected and
analyzed.

8. Medication Distribution
Several healthcare organizations are looking to use
machines that administer prescriptions based on
the dosage. They can also provide data on ailments
through linked devices. Pill-sized sensors can
monitor medication from inside the body.
Distributing medication via automation lessens the
need for manual monitoring, ultimately freeing up
providers to focus on more pressing issues.

9. Affordability & Convenience
Utilizing machines to deliver patient care means that
healthcare becomes increasingly affordable for all
parties involved. Mobility solutions and other new
technologies increase workflow productivity. The data
collection, reporting, and analyses become more
accurate, ultimately saving on time and reducing the
need for in-person visits. That’s not just good for the
patient, but for the healthcare organization as well,
allowing them to reduce wait times and prioritize urgent
cases. The IoT can also improve care while the patients
are in the hospital, cutting down on expenses for all
parties. It can also optimize surgery workflow, informing
families about the patient’s progress and discharge in
real time.

10. Challenges
If IoT in healthcare sounds like a dream rather than a reality, it almost is. In certain
situations, its challenges nearly outweigh the benefits. Security is the most pressing
concern about the IoT in healthcare. The goals to collect, manage, and store data
without risking hacking of confidential information are ongoing. As a nation, the
United States has a long way to go before achieving a full-proof method. Companies
like EHR Integration Services are working on vastly improving security in medical data
storage. Even when this issue is resolved, the technology will almost require extensive
training for both physicians and administrators. Many healthcare organizations don’t
yet have time or resources to implement the technology, the time, or the training. In
addition to security are obstacles with accessibility. Internet access is not always
readily available, particularly for many patients who are elderly, live in rural areas or
are in low-income brackets. For healthcare IT departments, the sheer amount of data
that comes in through connected devices can be overwhelming, also requiring a steep
learning curve. Organizations that do not voluntarily adopt the IoT will likely take the
longest to catch up with the bigger cities and institutions that do. Despite the
challenges, the future of healthcare will undoubtedly involve the IoT. It is certain that
the IoT will revolutionize the medical industry in unprecedented ways. Improving small
parts of already-existing products will bring about significant positive change in
healthcare and to the lives of patients worldwide. With higher levels of intelligence,
connectivity and more sophisticated gathering and monitoring of data, new scientific
achievements are possible every day. The results are higher efficiency, reduced waste,
and healthier lifestyles. That is just the beginning of a future where the medical
systems work to their fullest potential.

11. THANK YOU!
F O L L O W M E O N
S O C I A L M E D I A !
J O E L L A N D A U