The Future Scope of IoT in Healthcare: 2024 and Beyond

Continuous improvements in healthcare and medical services have always been a hot topic in the market. The medical experts leverage advanced technical solutions and strive hard to transform the healthcare sector in the best way possible.

One such sought-after alternative is the Internet of Things, or what we simply know as – IoT. This state-of-the-art technology has already posed an impactful impression over the world, and the healthcare industry is no different.

The implementation of IoT in healthcare is increasing at an unprecedented rate. It is often reported that the market revenue of IoT in the healthcare sector was $74.31 billion in 2024 and is estimated to reach $135.87 billion by 2025.

From virtual healthcare assistance to enhanced medical examination, the applications of IoT in healthcare are constantly expanding. But how effective are these IoT solutions in the long run?

IoT in Healthcare: Where Does It Stand?

The evolution of telemedicine has made it possible for healthcare professionals and patients to exchange medical information over electronic media. It proved to be beneficial, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when contactless visits were not only mandatory but also important from a health perspective.

However, IoT in telemedicine has carried this process far beyond contactless consultations. It revolutionized the healthcare industry by helping caregivers and patients connect virtually. Currently, the global IoT market size in the healthcare industry is approximately $74.3 billion and is projected to expand in the coming years at a CAGR value of 22.28%.

Besides virtual meetings, the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) devices have also been implemented in hospitals and other healthcare units to get real-time updates on patients without visiting them.

Benefits of IoT in Healthcare: How Is It Changing the Game?

Besides making medical services easily accessible to consumers, IoT technology in healthcare can also make related procedures affordable and efficient. Here are some of the benefits you can avail of with the Internet of Medical Things.

Real-time Reporting and Monitoring

One of the most crucial benefits of using IoT in healthcare is that it provides healthcare specialists with real-time updates on their patients’ health. This constant reporting and monitoring can help prevent or at least prepare them for serious conditions like cardiac arrests, asthma attacks, hypertension, etc., in advance.

This can be extremely useful in cases where the conditions of patients are highly critical and every second counts. For instance, real-time reports of patients in intensive care units or the ones put under special supervision can be obtained using IoMT devices.

End-to-end Connectivity

With the integration of the latest technologies and mediums, IoT applications in healthcare can offer a seamless connection and data-sharing process. These systems can leverage the power of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and AI to enhance end-to-end connectivity between doctors and patients. Consequently, tracking and identifying health issues becomes convenient and less time-consuming.

For instance, you can use IoT to connect different smart devices and medical equipment in a healthcare facility for better coordination and simultaneous reporting.

Well-organized Data Assortment and Analysis

One of the biggest challenges of in-person hospital appointments and treatments is maintaining and analyzing a huge pile of patients’ data. Although you can structure the data digitally, analyzing every single detail can be cumbersome.

The IoT devices used in healthcare can systematically track, collect, analyze, and share data using a cloud base. Blockchain technology in healthcare can make this data transfer process more efficient, transparent, and accessible.

General Body Check-up on the Go

Patients wearing IoT-powered wearable devices can easily contact their doctors for immediate assistance through the mobile applications linked with the devices. It will not only save traveling time and money but also help patients get accurate information regarding ailments timely.

Easy Elderly Assistance

One of the major sections getting benefited from IoT in healthcare is the old-age group. Although technology has made things easier for people, several senior citizens still feel reluctant to use advanced equipment. They prefer conventional modes of healthcare over modern ones.

However, considering their conditions and age, it becomes extremely important to keep them under observation, especially when they are dealing with serious diseases. In such situations, taking them to the hospitals on a regular basis can be troublesome for them and their health, as well.

Equipping them with smart IoT healthcare devices can provide caregivers with timely updates about their wellness. In fact, they can also share reminders to the patients regarding medications and diet. Moreover, these devices can also inform caregivers whenever there is an emergency. In a nutshell, with IoT remote patient monitoring, elders can get easy and much-needed care with convenience.

Lowering Waiting Time

One of the key metrics in the healthcare industry is reducing waiting time and enhancing patient satisfaction levels, and making the right use of IoT in healthcare can largely make a difference in these segments.

For instance, healthcare facilities can accelerate the registration process by incorporating IoT-enabled patient check-in features in the systems. Also, the patient flow can be optimized by monitoring the real-time location of patients and medical staff using IoT-connected devices.

The Real-life Applications of IoT in Healthcare

Looking at the growth of IoT technology in the medical sector, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that the future of IoT in healthcare will be bright. The following section will provide an overview of some real-life IoT applications in healthcare.

Smart Thermometers

It is critical to measure patients’ body temperature regularly to identify the early signs of illness. With smart thermometers, healthcare providers can get real-time updates by transmitting, storing, and analyzing temperature readings, providing better treatment to patients.

Also, you can get a more comprehensive view of a patient’s health by connecting these smart thermometers with heart rate and blood pressure monitors.

Hearables

The development of IoT-based hearables has completely revolutionized the way people with hearing loss interact. These smart hearables are connected and synchronized with smartphones via Bluetooth technology.

When the sound waves pass through these devices, they filter these waves, adjust them using smart equalizers, and deliver a customized real-world sound for hearing-impaired users.

Smart Insulin Pens

Smart insulin pens are another form of boon science and technology have offered to consumers. These are internet-based diabetes monitoring and treatment devices that can be accessed remotely. People suffering from diabetes can seamlessly manage their insulin delivery with these injector pens by linking them with an IoT-integrated app.

These smart insulin pens measure the sugar count, track doses, and notify users when they have to take their next shot. Moreover, users can also set customized alerts and get detailed reports regarding their diabetes levels.

Smart Pills

These edible IoT pills are one of the best ways to monitor and analyze the complete functioning of patients’ bodies. These pills can also notify caregivers when any sort of anomaly arises.

The working of these pills is simple – the patients swallow them and they travel through the digestive tract transferring all the details of a patient’s body to a receiver (smartphone).

What’s the Future Scope of IoT in Healthcare

There is no doubt in saying that IoT has significantly transformed the sphere of healthcare. Depression and mood monitoring, smart insulin delivery, remote heart rate, breathing analysis, connected inhalers, and the introduction of several other IoT applications have completely revolutionized the way medical services are delivered.

The ongoing trends in this domain have inspired healthcare institutions to implement IoT in their business operation models. Almost 60% of the businesses in the healthcare industry have already adopted IoT-based solutions in their infrastructure. It shows that companies and healthcare providers are looking for better solutions that rectify the issues they faced with manual record processing and management systems.

Another report states that 80% of clinics prefer Electronic Health Records over manual documents. These advanced systems help hospitals store, manage, and analyze patient results more efficiently, leading to the replacement of manual record-keeping practices.

How Can Appventurez Help Businesses Integrate IoT Solutions?

The internet of medical things has streamlined medical processes and enhanced the experience both for patients and healthcare institutions. Due to high-level convenience and immediate medical attention, the preference has shifted from in-person visits to remote interactions.

However, implementation of the Internet of Things in healthcare requires expertise and a professional approach. Therefore, it is recommended that businesses hire an expert IoT app development company that understands their needs and comes up with innovative solutions.