Internet of things implementation and challenges during COVID-19 in healthcare industries

Abstract

Internet of things (IoT) plays a significant role in the medical and healthcare industry. Integrating powerful technologies like 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and big data with IoT will certainly revolutionize the healthcare industry. IoT has gained maximum attention from healthcare service providers. The correct diagnosis and treatment is a costly service that will be offered by IoT at minimum cost. The right diagnosis through IoT helps in reducing the requirement for hospitalization. There are many benefits of IoT in health care and some of them are: end-to-end connectivity and affordability, remote medical assistance, tracking and alerts, etc. Some of the challenges seen with IoT in healthcare are data security and privacy, accuracy, cost, integration, etc. Some of the IoT applications in healthcare are minimizing the emergency state wait time, tracking patients, doctors, staff, and inventory, and improved drug management. By implementing IoT in the healthcare sector, healthcare providers get vital data through sensors, which provide awareness in the symptoms and pattern of the disease, health condition monitoring, early diagnosis while promoting remote treatment. The introduction of IoT in healthcare, however, remains a challenge. Many healthcare providers are either reluctant or unable to participate because of lack of requisite healthcare infrastructure to support IoT implementation, some of them are uncertain about the implementation process. But in future, IoT will surely revolutionize the healthcare industry by bridging the gaps.