A Novel Model for Implementing Internet of Things (IoT) in Iranian Hospitals

Abstract

The Internet of Things (IOT) has led to ground-breaking changes in the healthcare industry as a promising technological solution. Yet, despite its many benefits, its application has always proven to be challenging. Hence, the purpose of this study is to identify the challenges of using the IOT with the intention of proposing a model for implementing Internet of Things in Iranian hospitals. This study was performed in three phases. In the first phase, the challenges of using the IoT were outlined and introduced. In the second phase the challenges of using the Internet of Things in Iranian hospitals (according to experts) was established during the completion of a two-round Delphi. In the last phase, a novel model for implementing the IoT in Iranian hospitals was proposed. The identified primary model consisted of six groups, namely privacy and security, Big data, hardware, network, software, and organizational-cultural and environmental issues with 78 challenges. Out of the 78 identified challenges, 46 were approved by experts as essential elements for providing IoT patterns in Iranian hospitals. The highest and lowest averages were related to the subgroups "Failure to provide regular IoT rules and programs by governments" and "Absence of single, integrated and efficient platforms with high data transfer capacity and fast processing", respectively. The final model for implementing IoT in Iranian hospitals was designed and presented using Edraw Max10.0.4+Portable software. Providing this model can provide a sufficient basis, information and knowledge for policymakers, government authorities and managers of organizations to use the IoT in hospitals of Iran and other countries. Also, the application of the proposed model can result in the improved special capabilities in the realm of system design, and offer grounds for saving time and money as well as reducing failures in the initial design of IoT projects.