Anyone has any idea of what is IOT?
With the healthcare system facing with multiple challenges, there is a rise in demand for better services in Singapore. These challenges include a rapidly ageing population, which is accompanied by a growing prevalence of chronic diseases and a shortage of manpower in the healthcare sector.
As a healthcare leader, Singapore is striving hard to make healthcare more accessible for its growing pioneer generation. The current focus is likely to shift towards taking the digital route to make healthcare more affordable and convenient.
By 2020, the government is expecting to spend S$13 billion on healthcare, up from just S$3.74 billion in 2010 and S$10 billion in 2017.
To change how healthcare is delivered, the key is using one of the technologies-Internet of Things (IoT) .
IoT is about the extending the power of the internet beyond computers and smartphones to a whole range of other things, processes and environments.
Let’s take a look at the following IOTs which has penetrated into Singapore’s healthcare market.
- Doctors’ wearables
Wearables provide doctors patient data they never had before, enabling them to proactively diagnose patients before they head to a hospital for treatment.
2. Unique patient identifier
Healthcare solutions are supported by integrated medical records running on unique patient identifiers with IOT which can connect residential homes, nursing homes and senior-friendly communities to grocery shops.
With this, the Health Promotion Board can provide seniors with subsidies by pairing with pharmacies.
3. To monitor chronic conditions at home
The Smart Health-Assist (SHA) programme was implemented in 2015 as part of the Government’s broader Infocomm Media 2025 Masterplan.
The SHA programme explores the use of technology to support new models of care, in both home and community settings. One of its key area of focus is Telehealth-a long-distance delivery of clinical care through the means of electronic communications.
The Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) recently announced partnership with non-profit organisations, SATA Commhealth (SATA) under a new project to leverage on IoT technology.
This enable patients at home to monitor their vital signs, such as their blood pressure, pulse rate, and blood glucose level.
This enables healthcare providers to deliver care to diabetic patients and also for early intervention for high-risk patients.
4. To monitor patient’s health status even from a remote location
A new NUH project adopts the use of sensors and IoT infrastructure to focus on collecting and analysing patient data.
Instead of observing patients in a hospital environment, which takes up considerable manpower and resources, it allows healthcare professionals to monitor the health status of each patient from a remote location.
This new technological aid will be particularly helpful, especially for aged patients who are wheelchair bound or even immobile.
Regular feedback from telehealth devices also allows healthcare professionals to intervene and prevent emergencies from happening, instead of responding when it is already too late.
Conclusion
In the near-future, more incentives driven by smart devices are likely to be introduced to promote healthy behaviors. Through increasingly easy-to-use IoT, the senior citizens have easy access to their own health data so they are empowered to make important decisions on staying fit and healthy.
So what’s your thought on IoT? Share more with me now!
Mandy's Marketing life 