Real-World IoT in Healthcare Examples You Should Know

Grand View Research reports a CAGR of 21.2% from 2024 to 2030, with the market size growing from USD 44.2 billion in 2023 to nearly USD 170 billion by 2030.

The Internet of Things (IoT) has been disruptive in many industries, and the effect of IoT in healthcare examples has been revolutionary. Patients can now be seen and monitored in real time using transmittable devices like wearable sensors, as well as smart hospital beds, which modify the way they are treated as well as their providers’ management knowledge. It is a combination of connectivity, cloud computing, and miniaturized hardware that has formed an ecosystem where diagnostics can be improved by real-time data, the real-time information can enhance treatment, and the efficiency of operations can be improved.

This blog will guide you through real-life IoT in healthcare examples, the advantages of using the Internet of Things in healthcare, and the issues of IoT in healthcare that providers, patients, and technologists encounter.

Read More: The Future of Generative AI in Healthcare

What Is IoT in Healthcare?

Before discussing real-life examples, we should define what it is. IoT in healthcare connects physical devices such as sensors, monitors, and implants to monitor and share information through the internet. These gadgets track patient health indicators, streamline work processes, and create more responsive care environments.

The healthcare IoT incorporates many systems, including the infrastructure of a hospital, personal health monitoring, remote diagnostics, and clinical decision support, which will be consolidated in one to achieve better results and reduce expenditures.

1. Remote Patient Monitoring – (RPM) Systems

Real-World Example:

eCareCompanion is an RPM system that is based on a tablet computer manufactured by Philips, which integrates information from connected medical devices, such as blood pressure cuffs and glucose meters. It posts that information over the cloud so that physicians can access the information remotely.

Benefits:

This technology assists chronically ill patients to live with the illness at home. Among the most quoted Internet of Things in healthcare is the decreased number of hospital readmissions and emergency cases, since any possibility can be realized even beforehand.

2. Smart Inhalers Asthma inhalers Smart Human

Real-World Example:

Propeller Health is a company that produces a smart inhaler, which is Bluetooth-powered and can trace and synchronize the use of the inhaler with the help of a smartphone application. It relies on GPS and environmental information to study the timing and location of the patients when they experience the attacks.

Benefits:

Smart inhalers can help minimize the number of asthma attacks due to medication adherence and the detection of provoking stimuli. This follows the advantages of the Internet of Things in healthcare as a whole, such as real-time notifications and individualized care plans.

3. Commercially available wearable Heart rate and ECG Monitors

Real-World Example:

AliveCor is a handheld ECG device that is FDA-approved. AliveCor Kardia Mobile. It enables a user to measure an electrocardiogram at any time and send results to his/her cardiologist.

Benefits:

With heart condition patients, wearable ECGs can indicate irregular rhythms before they reach a life-threatening level. These IoT in healthcare examples can be singled out as remarkable due to the integration of user-friendliness and clinical precision.

4. Smart Hospital Beds

Real-World Example:

The beds made by Hillrom are smart and check the movement, weight, and heart rate of the patients. The information is integrated with Electronic Health Records (EHR) so that it can inform nursing decisions.

Benefits:

These beds make the environment safe through fall or pressure ulcer detection. Advantages of the Internet of Things in healthcare include the reduction of medical complications, easing discomfort, and increasing the rate of response on the part of the nurse.

5. Ingestible Sensors

Real-World Example:

Proteus Digital Health has come up with an ingestible pill sensor that can send out the data once it has reached the stomach. It ensures the intake of medication and tracks the internal well-being.

Benefits:

Medication adherence is a massive concern in the management of chronic illnesses. These sensors verify and can notify the caregivers in case a dose is missed.

6. Intelligent IV Pumps

Real-World Example:

Smart infusion pumps manufactured by Baxter communicate with the hospital networks and can be controlled by physicians remotely to modify the dosages. The pumps can be programmed to limit overdose or underdose.

Benefits:

This is an IoT in healthcare examples application that aims at mitigating the human aspect of error. Safer and more successful outcomes are achieved with the automated administration of medicine.

7. Medical Imaging Equipment that is IoT Enabled

Real-World Example:

The imaging systems of GE Healthcare have incorporated the IoT to manage their performance, anticipate their maintenance requirements, and share the scan information with experts across the state.

Benefits:

This alleviates downtimes, reduces maintenance expenses, and expedites diagnostics. It is one of the more IoT-in-healthcare heavy-infrastructure examples, yet it significantly increases the efficiency.

Read More: 30 Different Types of Software Used in Healthcare Industry

What are the IoT in Healthcare Challenges?

Although there are numerous benefits, there is a need to discuss what are the challenges to IoT in healthcare so that the stakeholders can manage them in the best way possible.

1. Information Security and Privacy

• Large volumes of sensitive information are produced by IoT devices
• It is hard to protect this data with HIPAA and other regulations
• Security breaches can be caused by weaknesses in the networks or equipment

2. Interoperability Issues

• Most hardware is provided by various suppliers and does not work very well together
• There is a problem of integration with hospital systems due to a lack of standardised protocols

3. The Costs of Implementation are high.

• The early spending on equipment, infrastructure, and training is costly
• Small clinics might not be able to afford a full-scale IoT

4. Scalability and Maintenance

• It becomes complicated in terms of managing thousands of connected devices
• The gadgets need constant updating, realignment, and cyber updates

5. Low User Adoption

• The aged patient is likely to exhibit impaired mobility with wearable gadgets
• Physicians can be opposed to new technology that interferes with their normal procedures

Awareness of what the challenges of IoT in healthcare are is essential in solving some of the problems that occur in adopting the technology. Even the most effective decisions can fail to yield results without strategic planning.

“IoT in healthcare is not just about connecting devices; it’s about connecting patients, doctors, and data to create smarter, safer, and more compassionate care.”

– Umair Ahmed, VP of Growth at Cubix

AI in Healthcare: A Perfect Companion to IoT

While IoT gives real-time data collection and connectivity, AI in healthcare stands to interpret the data into meaningful action. In this way, faster, more accurate, and predictive decision-making workflows can be created. AI-enablement can analyze data from IoT devices and detect the early and subtle indications of diseases, as well as support in the direction of recommended preventive treatments. From AI-driven diagnoses to medical image analysis automation through AI, the artificial intelligence, with IoT, significantly widens the prospect of connected care.

Key Benefits of AI in Healthcare:

• Works on predictive analytics on IoT-generated data
• Detects errors in diagnostics with automated image analysis
• Helps in deciding patient treatment plans using machine learning
• Enhances hospital resource allocation through AI forecast
• Enables patient engagement via AI chatbots and assistants

Read More: The Future of Patient Care – AI-Enabled Diagnostics

Afia: An App for Medical Appointment Booking

Afia is created to make patient-doctor interactions easy by rapidly booking appointments, sharing medical history, and getting live updates. It takes data from wearables and connected devices to enable doctors to get vital patient information concerning the case prior to consultation. This obviously leads to better diagnosis and more robust patient engagement. The whole ecosystem runs on cloud interconnectivity for seamless communication between patients, doctors, and healthcare providers. In so doing, Afia demonstrates how IoT can pave the way for better accessibility and efficiency in healthcare services.

Key Highlights:

• Appointment booking coupled with IoT-enabled health tracking
• Share vitals from wearables with healthcare providers in a secure manner
• Cloud storage for accessing medical history from anywhere
• Notifications and reminders enabled with IoT connectivity
• Real-time patient health data to aid better diagnosis

Read More: Big Data in Healthcare – Optimized Operations

Future Projections of IoT in Medical

The use of IoT in healthcare is on the rise. In the report compiled by MarketsandMarkets, the overall International market of IoT in healthcare is projected to amount to 289.2 billion dollars by the year 2028, in comparison to 127.7 billion in 2023. The motive forces are the increase in chronic illnesses, the aging population, and the need for individual care.

The new trends are:

• Predictive Diagnostics with AI-Powered IoT devices
• Integration of 5G to improve the speed of data transmission
• Blockchain Healthcare IoT on the internet to run against confidential healthcare information
• Voice-Enabled Medical Devices that will help in the care of elderly people

Read More: Transforming Healthcare with AI Integration

Conclusion

The experience accompanying the evolution of IoT apps in healthcare has already brought life-saving devices and effective mechanisms. Do you think it would be a connected inhaler supporting an asthma patient or a hospital bed where pressure points are monitored? The IoT in healthcare examples are proof that connected care is possible.

The Internet of Things in healthcare convinces with its applicability: it enhances patient outcomes, reduces costs, simplifies procedures, and helps providers use data for informed decisions. Nevertheless, innovators must combine progress with care. The stakeholders should respond to what some of the challenges of IoT in healthcare are, particularly concerning security, interoperability, and cost, among others.

With a future where all devices, patients, and providers will be connected, therefore adopting IoT technologies wisely will not only result in a more intelligent, safer, and caring healthcare ecosystem but also, if mismanaged, could ultimately harm future adoption.

Read More: Enterprise IoT – Benefits, Use Cases, Challenges

Need a Partner to Develop IoT-based Healthcare Solutions?

Cubix builds custom, secure, and scalable applications customized to modern medical needs. From remote monitoring to smart devices, we bring intelligent care to life. Partner with us to transform patient experiences and healthcare operations.