Intelligent, Connected Healthcare

IIoT is changing emergency services and hospital care through intelligent healthcare. This type of “connected care” improves patient care, staff efficiency and patient satisfaction.

First Response

When an emergency strikes, first responders can connect wearable sensors to a patient to monitor health conditions, such as heart and respiratory rate, without having to manually gauge repeatedly. Through IIoT, paramedics can also connect to a patient’s medical history and current medications, which aids them in providing proper treatment. This is especially valuable in situations where a patient cannot or is having trouble communicating. Connected ambulances can send vitals and patient records, allowing medical personnel to be ready for their arrival. Having data available to paramedics and the hospital before arrival speeds up patient care and can be critical in saving a life.

Connected ambulances can also record driving data, providing reports on needed maintenance and specific driver statistics. This helps hospital administration improve the safety of ambulance rides, prevent vehicle downtime and put the best drivers behind the wheel. In an emergency, GPS allows administration to notify the closest available vehicle, shortening response times.

Staff Efficiency

IIoT can collect hospital historical data to provide predictive analytics for how many patients could visit the emergency room on any given day. This allows departments to ensure they are appropriately staffed. If more patients come than projected, IIoT can predict congestion and suggest a different hospital for a patient to reduce wait time.

During their stay, wearable sensors can monitor and report a patient’s vitals. This saves time for staff, eliminating the need to check manually every few hours. This also allows patients rest as they don’t need to be woken up to check their condition. Any problems with a patient’s health can trigger automatic alerts, allowing for faster response times. IIoT-configured infusion pumps can deliver medication automatically, reducing the need for nurses to administer manually.

Patient Satisfaction

IIoT can immediately relay when a bed is available, reducing patient wait time in the emergency room. Once situated, wireless sensors can improve patient comfort. Sensors on a patient’s bed allow the automated mattress to shift to redistribute a patient’s weight and avoid bed sores, which complicate treatment and comfort.

IIoT can give patients better control of their room with the ability to change temperature, adjust television volume, open or close window blinds and make bed adjustments without getting up or requiring assistance. This reduces patient reliance on the call button for nurses and allows them to feel more in control of their circumstances.

IIoT can connect patient allergy information and dietary restrictions with hospital food services. Patients can confirm their orders via an app or make video calls to discuss restrictions with food staff. This saves costs from thrown out food that is prepared without understanding restrictions and allergies and increases patient satisfaction with their care.

As healthcare technology continues to advance, IIoT is changing the industry for the better.