Internet of Things – Healthcare Division
You may have heard the term, Internet of Things, mentioned in various articles, blogs, or newscasts. For those that think it is just another turn of phrase, the term is defined by the Global Standards Initiative as a global infrastructure for the information society, enabling advanced services by interconnecting (physical and virtual) things based on existing and evolving interoperable information and communication technologies.
While the Internet of Things is slowly infiltrating our everyday lives through connected devices within our homes, in the cars we drive, and in nearly every public place too, I can’t help but think that healthcare will be left far behind. As with most new technologies, healthcare’s adoption as a whole is often years (if not decades) behind. In other articles we discuss how technology can enhance and improve healthcare delivery and outcomes with telemedicine interconnectivity. Below, are a few examples of stand alone algorithms and groups of algorithms, which, can help healthcare systems achieve interconnectivity on the scale of the Internet of Things. By running these algorithms for connected patients as a matter of routine, outcomes can be improved for the physician and the patient. Warning signs and risk factors can be more easily identified and addressed early, potentially saving billions in healthcare costs and improving outcomes for patients.
- Type 2 diabetes risk estimator for adults – estimates the risk that a middle-aged adult will develop type 2 diabetes within 8 years.
- Predictors for in-hospital mortality of a medical patient – identifies risk factors for in-hospital mortality for a patient admitted to a medical ward.
- Readmission – one of the costliest situations in healthcare is a hospital readmission. Many readmissions are potentially avoidable. Our “Medal Pack” on hospital readmission can reduce unnecessary readmissions and potentially save institutions and community hospitals millions of dollars.
- G8 screening tool for evaluating a geriatric patient – identifies a geriatric patient at risk for functional decline using the G8 screening test.
Some of the broader categories that medical algorithms can be used within the Internet of Things Healthcare Division are:
The Internet of Things Healthcare Division is expected to be a $117 Billion market by 2020. It will take some time to navigate the tumultuous political waters, but once a workable approach has been developed, the ability to care for patients near and far through connected devices and biometric sensors will likely reduce much of the chronic illnesses in the United States and reduce overall healthcare spending. Incorporating medical algorithms into any Internet of Things Healthcare Division product or company will be an essential part of evidence-based healthcare delivery.
