From surgery-assisting robotic arms to wearable or ingestible sensors, the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) solutions and products are now a staple among tech companies' healthcare software development services. These solutions are also integral to the medical provider's IT ecosystem. And their use and volume are expected to increase.
According to the Precedence Research, IoMT market size will increase by tenfold, from $177.8B in 2023 to $1,940.75B in 2033. In 2024, the healthcare industry boasts over 1.27B IoT connections globally, and as Statista predicts, the number is going to double by 2028. More and more healthcare businesses are adopting or planning to adopt medical IoT solutions to provide better patient care and improve their business processes. This article discusses the major aspects of the Internet of Medical Things, its types, benefits, and how to deal with the implementation challenges.
What is the Internet of Medical Things?
Internet of Medical Things, IoMT, is the collection of medical devices and applications that communicate with each other over the network and send data to the healthcare IT systems. IoMT devices collect data and facilitate its exchange, connecting medical equipment, healthcare providers, and patients. IoMT mobile or desktop applications analyze data from connected devices and enable real-time monitoring, remote diagnostics, and personalized treatment.
The Internet of Medical Things is usually classified into different categories, depending on the device type it's used in.
Types of IoMT devices
There are plenty of medical devices with IoT technology, including smart thermometers, infusion pumps, remote patient monitoring (RPM) devices, ingestible sensors, and more. They are often classified into five categories based on the environment they're used in:
- In-home IoMT;
- Wearable IoMT;
- Mobile IoMT;
- Public IoMT;
- In-hospital IoMT.
Let's review each in more detail.
In-home IoMT
These are often stationary medical Internet of Things devices used in patients' homes to monitor health conditions. They enable remote care, diagnostics, and medication management without requiring the patient to visit a healthcare facility. Examples of in-home medical IoT include smart pill dispensers, connected blood pressure monitors, smart medical beds, glucometers, and connected inhalers.
In-home IoMT is a great option for providing healthcare services to patients with chronic conditions in their homes. For example, personal emergency response systems use devices in the home that alert a hospital when the patient experiences an emergency.
Wearable IoMT
Wearable or on-body Internet of Medical Things devices are connected to a patient's body to record and transmit the patient's health information to remote tracking or monitoring systems. These tools can be of two types:
- Consumer-grade: Smart tools, including Fitbit and other fitness monitors, activity trackers, Apple watches, etc. They do not require supervision as they are used for external wellness and health-metric tracking for personal use and sharing with healthcare providers.
- Medical-grade: Certified devices such as neuromodulation tools, smart pills, or glucometers designed to manage pain, improve physical performance, and resolve other health issues. Their production is strictly regulated. These tools should be used under clinical guidance. FreeStyle Libre is an example of a medical-grade wearable sensor for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM).
Mobile IoMT
These are the devices that people can carry around to access medical services. Usually, they consist of the mobile device paired with the mobile app installed in the user's smartphone and connected to the healthcare system or doctor's portal. These tools use near-field communication (NFC), radio frequency identification tags (RFID), and other technologies to communicate with other systems.
KardiaMobile is one of many examples of mobile IoMT. This is a device that the customer uses to record a medical-grade electrocardiogram (EKG) on their smartphones. The data can then be sent to the doctor, enabling 24/7 monitoring. KardiaMobile can detect atrial fibrillation (AFib), bradycardia, and tachycardia. With each membership tier, the device can detect even more conditions.
Public IoMT
Public Internet of Medical Things, also called community IoMT, is a connected network of medical devices and systems used in public or healthcare settings to monitor, track, and manage health-related data. These devices can be installed in smaller community facilities, especially in less-populated areas, to increase the general public's access to primary healthcare services.
For example, point-of-care kiosks, or telehealth kiosks, can dispense medical supplies similar to food vending machines and connect patients with care providers. Usually, such kiosks are interactive and are equipped with video displays, integrated speakers, HD cameras, and handpieces. They also have multiple cut-out shelves with medical instruments (thermometers, blood pressure cuffs, glucose monitors, stethoscopes, and other medical devices) that people can use during such telehealth visits. The patient's health data from the connected medical devices are transmitted to the doctor's system, allowing them to diagnose the patient remotely. A REDYREF's telehealth kiosk is an example of a public Internet of Medical Things solution.
In-hospital IoMT
In-hospital IoMT devices include connected infusion pumps, sensor-equipped medical beds, wheelchairs, and other tools used in the hospital building. They are linked to the dashboards monitored by the medical personnel allowing the latter to respond to the vital signs changes or reduce visits to stable in-patients. These devices help decrease nurse's workload, prioritize in-person visits, detect and respond quickly to critical changes.
The hospitals also use the Internet of healthcare things, a broader term for IoT devices for healthcare facilities, inventory, and asset management. Internet of things healthcare applications help organize and keep medical equipment in place, run device diagnostics, and facilitate equipment search. In addition, they can also be used to monitor hygiene and compliance with treatment protocol.
Explore further: IoT in healthcare: key benefits and use cases
Applications of IoMT in healthcare
Internet of Medical Things applications are plenty, and they all revolve around two main tasks of any IoT solution: measuring or tracking specific data and sending it to the central system for further analysis. Here are a few examples of how it can be applied in healthcare.
Remote patient monitoring
According to the PR Newswire data, 45 % of healthcare providers use remote patient monitoring (RPM) for acute conditions monitoring, especially in hospital-at-home programs. Moreover, 77% of such businesses expect traditional in-patient hospital monitoring to shift to RPM-based care.
IoMT devices allow for continuous monitoring of vital signs, such as heart rate, blood pressure, glucose levels, and more. For example, a patient with diabetes can use a continuous glucose monitor such as Dexcom G6, which measures and transmits real-time glucose level data to their healthcare provider. It helps doctors manage the medication and intervene if necessary without a patient's in-person visit.
IoMT-enabled RPM can also be used within the hospital setting. A nurse can monitor the patient's conditions remotely and optimize their visiting routing, prioritizing the needs of critical patients while effectively monitoring those in the general wards.
Healthcare data measurement and transfer
Medical IoT helps collect and send real-time health data to healthcare systems, allowing providers to track patient conditions. Devices like wearable ECG monitors and smart blood pressure cuffs transmit data to physicians, ensuring quick responses to abnormal readings or worsening health conditions.
Medication adherence monitoring
Such devices as smart pill dispensers help patients follow the medication intake plan and alert healthcare providers or caregivers when doses are missed. These tools also come with mobile apps, alerting the patients about the prescribed medicine shortly after skipping the scheduled intake. These connected devices improve medication adherence, particularly for patients with chronic conditions, and prevent potential complications due to skipped dosages.
Patient location tracking
The Internet of Medical Things can track patients' locations. It is useful for hospitals and facilities that treat the elderly and patients with dementia, Alzheimer's, or severe mental disorders. Wearable GPS trackers alert medical workers if a patient leaves a designated area. It helps ensure patient safety and allows for timely interventions in case of wandering.
Moreover, some IoMT devices can be equipped with on-device AI, allowing caregivers to detect a patient's fall and abnormal vital signs, locate the patient, and provide the necessary help faster.
Connecting ambulances en route to medical facilities and healthcare professionals
IoMT can be used to connect the devices inside the ambulance car and transmit real-time patient data, such as vital signs or ECG readings, directly to hospital teams while en route. This data transmission helps the in-hospital personnel to set up the care location (ER, operating room, intensive care unit, etc.) It also allows the medical team to respond faster to conditions like heart attacks, increasing the chance of a patient's survival. Moreover, in case of personnel shortage, these technologies facilitate the communication between a paramedic and a doctor with a specific expertise remotely.
Benefits of IoMT for healthcare providers
By adopting medical IoT, healthcare businesses can achieve the following advantages.
24/7 monitoring of patient's conditions
This is one of the major benefits of the medical Internet of Things for medical personnel, especially in a workforce shortage. The doctors and nurses can access patient data from the connected devices and correct the treatment plan or intervene accordingly.
Better emergency management
The Internet of Medical Things also supports remote monitoring of high-risk patients, triggering immediate alerts to healthcare providers in case of emergencies like heart attacks or strokes. IoMT facilitates remote consultations between paramedics and specialists during transit, ensuring patients receive the right treatment en route.
Additionally, location tracking of patients and emergency responders can improve coordination during large-scale emergencies. IoMT can monitor the availability of critical medical supplies, ensuring the availability and more efficient deployment of medical resources to handle crises.
Improved drug intake adherence and procedure following
IoMT tools and solutions allow doctors and medical personnel to monitor how accurately the patients adhere to the medication and treatment plans. This is essential for geriatric care and treatment of patients with memory disorders. With the Internet of Medical Things, doctors can faster assess medication efficacy, correct dosages, or substitute medication to improve patient outcomes.
Precise resource location management
Medical teams benefit from IoMT technologies as they enable precise real-time location systems (RTLS) to track medical equipment, staff, and patients and manage resource availability.
Hospitals can use IoMT to track vital equipment such as defibrillators or ventilators, ensuring they are readily available when needed. Since doctors and nurses can locate vital equipment such as defibrillators or ventilators assets online in the cloud, they don't have to spend time for in-person checks. It ensures the equipment is readily available when needed. Moreover, it streamlines asset management and enhances operational efficiency.
IoMT-enabled ambulances and emergency vehicles can help decrease response time as the operator can track and assign the closest unit to respond to an emergency. In large healthcare facilities, IoMT can help monitor the location of medical staff, so the right personnel can be deployed to the correct urgent care units faster.
Improved patient experience and care
By gathering patient data promptly and precisely, medical devices powered with IoT technologies help doctors and hospital personnel to provide better treatment and care. In addition, it gives patients visibility of their conditions, fostering a better culture of self-care and awareness.
It's not only healthcare providers who can benefit from these technologies. The patients, too, will experience various positive changes.
Benefits of IoMT for patients
The Internet of Medical Things allows patients to have certain healthcare services on demand, making caretaking more convenient. Here are a few other advantages of IoMT for patients.
Broader access to primary care
IoMT-powered point-of-care kiosks allow the population in remote areas to access services from primary care physicians. With doctor-led telediagnostics, the patients will be promptly prescribed treatment or redirected to a specialized doctor. It helps reduce potential healthcare complications, risks, and associated costs.
Better chronic disease management
Patients with chronic conditions can regularly monitor key health parameters at home, such as glucose levels or heart rate, without needing to visit a medical facility. This remote capability makes it convenient for patients to integrate monitoring into their daily routines. With the solutions providing access to health data through mobile apps, patients can track their progress and manage their conditions, leading to better engagement and improved long-term outcomes.
Personalized treatment plans
The medical devices powered by IoT give doctors access to various patient's real-time health indicators. This data allows doctors to adjust medication dosages, lifestyle recommendations, or therapy plans based on each patient's unique needs and health trends. It helps patients avoid treatment side effects and have early intervention in case of medication intolerance.
Reduced hospital visits and associated costs
Since IoMT solutions deliver patients' health updates to the doctor's platform, patients can avoid frequent in-person check-ups. It makes healthcare more convenient and allows patients to access the needed services faster. It also spares patients the need to travel to healthcare facilities, which can save travel costs.
While there are plenty of advantages of adopting IoMT solutions for healthcare businesses, there are some challenges associated with it.
Key challenges in implementing Internet of Medical Things
IoMT comes with unique legal, regulatory, technical, and privacy challenges because the IoMT ecosystem is complex and has many stakeholders. They include:
- Medical device manufacturers;
- Connectivity providers;
- Original equipment manufacturers (OEM);
- Systems/software engineers;
- System integrators;
- End users.
That's why Internet of Medical Things solutions should consider the requirements pertaining to each stakeholder. However, there are a few common IoMT challenges concerning each group.
Device integration
Many medical devices come from different manufacturers and use varying data formats and communication protocols. The lack of standardization makes it difficult for devices to communicate seamlessly with each other and with existing healthcare IT systems, such as electronic health or medical records (EHRs and EMRs).
Compatibility issues between new IoMT devices and legacy systems can require significant investment in software development and IT support to enable proper integration. The issue becomes even more prominent if you want to scale such solutions. These challenges can increase both the time and costs associated with adopting IoMT, making seamless device integration a critical hurdle for healthcare providers.
N-iX solution: You should adopt interoperability standards like HL7, FHIR, or DICOM to ensure that different IoMT devices and systems can communicate using a common language. Additionally, partnering with software development companies experienced in IoMT integration can help design custom solutions that ensure seamless interaction between new devices and healthcare systems.
Read more: Top 15 healthcare IT consulting companies
Data interoperability
Since there are a lot of non-standardized devices, they collect data in different formats. Managing such data becomes challenging, as it should be processed appropriately and formatted for analysis.
Healthcare providers must also ensure that the data is transmitted securely while maintaining data integrity across systems. As a result, integrating data from multiple sources can become time-consuming and error-prone, potentially delaying care.
N-iX solution: The mentioned communication standards (HL7, FHIR, DICOM) also ensure data interoperability. Use integration platforms or middleware that bridge various devices and IT systems, simplifying data exchange. You can also choose cloud-based interoperability platforms to centralize data from various IoMT devices, streamlining information access and analysis from different sources in a unified manner.
Data security and privacy
The IoMT ecosystem usually includes numerous devices that are potential targets for cybercriminals. As the IBM DATA Breach Report states, data breach costs in 2023 were the highest in the healthcare sector, reaching up to $10.93M.
Since healthcare ranks among the top five most affected industries by cybercrimes, businesses adopting any digital solutions, including the Internet of Medical Things, should have robust cybersecurity practices and policies.
N-iX solution: To avoid breaches, each IoMT device and connected systems should transfer and collect data according to specific security protocols. To respect patient privacy, the business should also do data minimization (i.e., collecting only strictly necessary data) and pseudonymization (i.e., substituting real data identifiers with made-up ones). In addition, if the business outsources a part of medical device software development, it should ensure its tech partner follows development protocols to avoid data breaches. Outsourcing partners should also have reliable fallback procedures if the devices' functionality is compromised.
Explore further: Healthcare IT outsourcing: Top factors to consider
Regulatory compliance and standards
Healthcare is one of the most regulated industries. Usually, the more risks the device or tech solution can potentially pose, the stricter the regulations that govern its production or development.
Moreover, each country has its own set of regulations for data collection and processing by medical devices and healthcare solutions. For example, here are the similarities and differences regarding data requirements in the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, UAE, and Qatar.
The European Union's regulations shaping IoMT user security are classified into separate categories. They include:
- Strictly "consumer" regulations: Directive 2011/83/EU;
- Safety regulations: General Product Safety Regulation, Medical Device Regulation (MDR);
- Cybersecurity regulations: NIS Directive, Cybersecurity Act;
- Provisions on the protection of personal data: General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
However, you should consider the regulations governing the use and manufacturing, software development, and deployment of the Internet of Medical Things devices within a target market. Here's a list of major documents currently in force on the biggest healthcare markets:
- United States: HIPAA, FDA, HITECH;
- Canada: CMDR, PIPEDA;
- Brazil: ANVISA;
- Japan: PMDA;
- China: NMPA;
- India: CDSCO;
- Australia: Data Protection Act, MHRA.
The list features the major documents, but depending on the specifics of the device, software, or intended use, you may also need to follow additional requirements. Moreover, you should follow the international compliance requirements of organizations such as ISO or IMDRF. If you outsource any part of IoMT software or device development, adherence to the mentioned requirements, specific methodologies, and processes will help you pass audits and get the necessary certifications.
N-iX solution: Our compliance includes PCI DSS and SOC-2, ensuring that we meet the strictest requirements for data security. Additionally, we hold ISO 27001 for information security management, ISO/IEC 27701:2019 for privacy information management, and ISO 9001 for quality management systems. We're also GDPR-compliant, which makes us a reliable tech partner for European healthcare businesses, minimizing data breaches or non-compliance risks.
Explore more: Achieve quality and compliance with a healthcare app development company
How N-iX can help businesses with IoMT
We help businesses bring innovative IoMT devices to market faster, from concept and prototyping to final product development. Here are a few examples of what the N-iX team can do regarding the Internet of Medical Things.
IoMT device design and development
N-iX offers comprehensive design and development services for IoMT devices, focusing on designing reliable, user-friendly, and scalable medical devices and robust software. We examine the existing IoMT ecosystem, study the physical setting, and plan for solution integration or developing a standalone IoMT tool. It helps us create a solution or design that would fit the intended setting and reach operational and business goals.
Our team combines expertise in embedded systems and IoT with a deep understanding of medical device and firmware standards, ensuring that each device meets both technical and clinical requirements.
UI/UX platform design
Our UI/UX design team creates intuitive, user-centric interfaces for IoMT applications, helping healthcare providers and patients easily interact with the technology. We design platforms that enhance user experience, reduce learning curves, and ensure that complex medical data is displayed in a clear and accessible manner.
We have experience designing an innovative healthcare platform for Cure Forward, a leading digital platform for educating cancer patients about therapies and clinical trials within the US.
The N-iX team delivered a consistent and intuitive UI design of the application that enables users to quickly access the data they need while supporting interactions for multiple users, optimizing efficiency, and minimizing response times. Additionally, we enhanced the patient portal with a system that automatically adjusts based on the user responses. It helped us deliver a tailored experience to each user.
Device integration
N-iX helps seamlessly integrate IoMT devices with existing healthcare IT systems, such as Electronic Health Records, Electronic Medical Records, and Hospital Information Systems (HIS). We address interoperability and standardization challenges, ensuring that different devices communicate effectively for a cohesive healthcare ecosystem.
Hospital network setup
We design and implement robust network infrastructure to support IoMT devices, ensuring reliable and secure connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.) throughout hospital environments. N-iX optimizes network performance to accommodate the high data traffic generated by connected medical devices, helping achieve real-time data transmission. Our solutions ensure low latency and high-speed connectivity, critical for continuous remote patient monitoring and effective healthcare delivery.
Secure data aggregation and management
Our data scientists ensure that data from multiple IoMT devices is consolidated smoothly, creating a unified view of patient data. We implement advanced encryption protocols, access control measures, and data validation processes to maintain data integrity and prevent unauthorized access. Our focus on data security helps healthcare providers leverage IoMT data while meeting compliance requirements and minimizing risks.
Cloud integration
We facilitate cloud integration for IoMT solutions, enabling scalable data storage and processing. N-iX's partnerships with AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform ensure seamless integration with leading cloud platforms. Our expertise in cloud architecture enables healthcare organizations to leverage real-time analytics and Machine Learning to derive actionable insights from IoMT data.
Ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations
N-iX helps businesses navigate the complex landscape of healthcare regulations, such as GDPR, MDR, and ISO, while our knowledge of HIPAA requirements allows us to address broader regulatory needs.
Our team ensures that IoMT solutions are designed and implemented in compliance with the necessary standards, reducing the risk of data breaches and related legal issues. We conduct compliance assessments and security audits to ensure that your IoMT solutions meet the required standards of data privacy and patient safety.
For example, we helped our client, WEINMANN Emergency, to expand their development capabilities. Together with our client's team, our embedded and IoT experts have worked on developing compliant firmware for a new version of MEDUCORE Standard², a portable defibrillator. As a result, our client's product has met various regulatory requirements (Medical Devices Directive 93/42/EEC, EN 1789, EN 60601-2-27, EN 80601-2-61, RTCA DO-160, MIL-STD 810 G, EUROCAE ED-14G, etc.) and was cleared to be used within the EU.
Conclusion
The Internet of Medical Things offers immense potential for transforming healthcare through connected devices that enable better patient care, improved operational efficiency, and real-time data insights. However, its successful implementation requires overcoming challenges like device integration, data interoperability, and strict regulatory compliance. By partnering with a tech expert like N-iX, healthcare businesses can navigate these challenges effectively and bring innovative IoMT solutions to market faster.
N-iX, with 21 years of experience and a team of over 2,200 software experts specializing in cloud, IoT, computer vision (CV), AI, ML, and Data Science, has the resources and knowledge needed to guide healthcare providers through these complexities.
Having collaborated with over 160 companies, including Fortune 500 firms and healthcare businesses like Weinmann Emergency and Cure Forward, our team can bring valuable expertise to your IoMT projects. Get in touch with N-iX to elevate your IoMT capabilities and deliver smarter, more connected healthcare solutions.
References:
- Cost of a Data Breach Report 2023 | IBM
- Remote Patient Monitoring Adoption Increased over 300 Percent in Two Years | PR Newswire
- FreeStyle Libre Continuous Glucose Monitoring| FreeStyle Libre US
- KardiaMobile EKG Monitor - Instant EKG on Your Phone | AliveCor
- Telemedicine Kiosks for Healthcare | Telehealth | REDYREF
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