Healthcare is an essential part of life. In today’s dynamic world, Internet of Things has become a widely used technology in various fields and smart Healthcare also being one of its important application areas. It rightly complements and strengthens the existing healthcare services to provide reliable, effective and smart services to the elderly and patients with chronic illness.
Interconnecting technological advancements with Healthcare services has been widely identified as potential solution to alleviate the rising pressures in this sector. Furthermore, it improves security, ease of access to emergency medical care and quick support improving quality of life.
One of the biggest drivers of the IoT in health care is the increasing number of sensors available for different functionalities namely
- Standard sensors for tracking movement, light, sound, temperature, moisture and heart rate.
- Other sensors to detect ECG (electrocardiography), EMG (electromyography) and EEG (electroencephalography).
In hospitals where many patients are monitored frequently as a part of diagnosis, the need for a cost effective and fast responding sensor mechanism is inevitable. And proper implementation of the same provides timely warnings to the medical staff and doctors in case of emergencies.
Wireless sensor networks find applications in various formats under healthcare monitoring where sensors are used to track both personnel and patients. At dire circumstances where ageing population becomes a social burden, at – home healthcare is enabled through WSN. It also enables remote medical evaluations over a distance using information and communication techniques reducing the overall costs.
Information technology is a major boon and so are its advancements. The benefits reaped are umpteen and never tires in providing more. Wireless sensor have gained considerable attention owing to its flexible, cost effectiveness, efficiency and reliability in providing the best healthcare services.
