Of all the services available to people in the United Kingdom, health care is perhaps the most crucial. Most will start relying on it from birth, before revisiting with varying frequency throughout life. Despite its importance, however, there are serious and ongoing challenges to overcome.
The pressures of population growth, extending life expectancies and ongoing financial constraints have undoubtedly stretched the country’s National Health Service (NHS) in recent years, posing a concerning risk to the levels of care on offer. This is why the focus has shifted to innovation and change—a solution is needed. Enter the Internet of Things.
Connected technologies—more specifically, the IoT—are poised to revolutionize the sector, changing how care is given and enhancing the way in which hospitals, surgeries and nursing homes across the country operate. It seems inevitable that the results will be huge, and although it may not be obvious, the transition is already under way.
A Connectivity Revolution
The IoT is affecting the world right now, whether people realize it or not. Smart metering has made its way into many workplaces and homes, the popularity of connected watches is increasing steadily and WiFi-enabled cars are on their way to becoming the standard. The trend is similar in health care, with medical personnel already relying on connected equipment like fitness trackers to keep track of physical recoveries and motion sensors to monitor trips and falls. The best really is yet to come, though.
As we move forward, the adoption of these types of technologies will only increase as the necessary developments play out and the true potential is realized. That potential includes everything from increased productivity and lower running costs to more vacant beds and reduced recovery times.
Moving Care to the Home
At present, the only place to receive hospital-level care is in a hospital, but that won’t always be the case. With the help of the IoT, it will soon be normal for patients to be treated from the most comfortable place they know: their home.
The introduction of countless sensors and connected devices will allow doctors to keep much closer control of their patients’ care without actually having to be in the same room. Temperature and humidity sensors, for example, will ensure that environments are comfortable and conducive to recovery without the need for human attention. Wearables will send valuable vital-signs data that can be acted upon when necessary, and medicines can be dispensed automatically, with alerts issued if the correct dosage is not consumed at the proper time.
Full Support from Patients
This is all a big deal for patients; the data shows that 72 percent of adults believe having health-monitoring technology in their home would benefit both them and the NHS. The same proportion say they would feel less concerned for their relatives if they also used health-monitoring technology in their homes. What’s more, these individuals are ready—nine out of ten say they’d be prepared to have their basic vital signs monitored, while roughly the same number would agree to having their weight watched.
Decreased Demand and More Freedom
The real rewards come on a much larger scale, though. The IoT will essentially lead to less demand on health-care services. What this means is more empty beds for those who need them most, shorter waiting lists and generally less of a strain on the time of doctors and nurses.
Medical professionals will also be given greater freedom, enabling them to use their skills and knowledge more efficiently. Instead of being referred to the available specialist at the closest hospital, a patient in need of specialist care can be seen and monitored remotely by the most appropriate doctor, wherever they’re located—all thanks to IoT connectivity, which essentially removes many of the geographical barriers that currently make it difficult for people to get the help they need. The end result is a better level of care and, ultimately, a higher chance of a full recovery.
Major Cost-savings
As if all of that wasn’t enough, medical facilities across the sector will start to notice significant cost savings as their operations become more efficient. With fewer menial and administrative tasks to complete, doctors and nurses will be able to fit more into their days, bringing demand down and removing the need for additional hiring. Hard-working sensors will also help to reduce the need for home visits and off-site work, once again bringing expenditures down.
The money saved can then be used to invest in further connected infrastructure, and for further detailed medical research. Once again, the focus is back on providing better care for patients.
The Brightest of Futures
The future of health care in the United Kingdom has long been a hot topic, but the breakthroughs we’re seeing in connected technologies should go some way toward putting minds at ease. Just as we’re seeing in most other industries, the Internet of Things is well on its way to making the health-care sector a lot more productive, effective and cost-efficient—all to the benefit of the people who matter most: patients.
Graeme Parton is a writer specializing in technology and working on behalf of Arqiva, a communications infrastructure and media services company. With a background in journalism and marketing, he has covered everything from big data and business intelligence to cloud computing and the Internet of Things.