Healthcare needs a dose of IoT and Edge

As hospitals aim to quash unprecedented backlogs because of the pandemic, doctors and nurses need some breathing space. IoT and Edge provide options for some relief.

How did we get here? This diagnosis is multifactorial.

According to data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), government spending on health declined in the UK, France, Italy, Denmark, Ireland and Greece from 2009 to 2019. Meanwhile in Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Norway, Austria and Finland, budgets flatlined, rising slightly in places.

Naturally, we’re all getting older. One fifth (20.4%) of EU society is now aged 65 and above. And across age groups, an estimated 60% of EU citizens are now overweight. Adding further strain is a lack of hospital beds and trained staff. So, what can be done?

Prevention is better than cure, with IoT and Edge

In the US, the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) enables healthcare providers to extend their reach outside of the traditional clinic or hospital setting, saving on trips to the emergency room.

At-home monitoring systems allow patients and doctors to keep track of vital signs like heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose levels. Remote patient monitoring delivers real-time health data via IoT devices and connected sensors, allowing physicians to keep a watchful eye on a patient’s health in a time-efficient manner. And smart medication dispensers automatically alert doctors when patients don’t take their medicine.

The potential for IoT in healthcare is profound, and I believe it is leading to better workflows, lower running costs, and improved patient care. But this will also generate more data than hospitals are equipped to handle.

Healthcare leaders must decide how to manage these volumes of data, considering bandwidth, expense, access, and patient privacy. Hospitals need to think like any other enterprise by asking what data should be sent to the cloud, and what data will be better managed locally at the edge.

I recommend reading this snapshot on unlocking data for healthcare workers, if you’d like to learn more about how the healthcare sector can benefit from Dell Technologies OEM Solutions , in partnership with 英特尔 .

I’d love to hear your thoughts on how tech can help in healthcare, as our hospitals fight to survive another hard winter. I’d especially love to hear from health leaders. What would you like to know about IoT and edge? Get in touch in the comments.?