CIO OPINION the central servers whenever connections are reestablished . By interfacing with an Edge data centre , IoT healthcare devices can extend the reach of existing networks , enabling medical personnel to access critical patient data even in areas with poor connectivity .
Not only will Edge technologies ’ remote capabilities help rural areas , but they also have huge implications for emergency services . Edge solutions will allow for on-demand provisioning and continuous tracking of mobile healthcare units and accelerated diagnosis at accident scenes to improve stability treatment before transfer to hospital .
Driving new revenue models and cost savings
As well as improving and extending current practices , Edge technologies also have the potential to streamline existing operations and drive new revenue models within the healthcare industry .
One example of the way in which real-time analytics and rapid responses enabled by Edge technologies are already being used to improve care for patients can been seen in the treatment of diabetes in some countries .
prevent incidents which might result in hospitalisation or additional costs .
Remote healthcare
Conducting data processing close to the patient is particularly important for those in remote areas . And without Edge technologies , the healthcare industry is less poised to support these places . For example , lacking an Internet connection prevents medical providers from being able to access centralised databases of patient data .
Portable IoT healthcare equipment developed by Edge Computing companies has the ability to gather , store , generate and analyse critical patient data without needing to be in constant contact with a network infrastructure .
Patients with wearable IoT medical devices can be diagnosed quickly and effectively on-site and the information gathered from them can be fed back into
With Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning offering far greater analysis of patient data than ever before , healthcare organisations have a real opportunity to better understand the efficacy of treatments and medications , allowing better targeting and less waste .
With the right analytics in place , the data could also be used to provide personalised guidance on lifestyle management , which could drive down practitioner and hospital visits and reduce treatment burden . That data will become more valuable over time and could be sold to pharmaceutical and medical equipment companies to help them improve their products .
From an operational perspective , interconnectivity is another potential source of cost savings . Medical providers have long been plagued by incompatible systems and burdensome record keeping that could be all but eliminated by networks of IoT medical devices and Edge technology applications that communicate quickly and easily across organisational boundaries .
The ability to monitor patient data at the point of care and improve remote services through Edge technologies , can transform patient outcomes , while also enhancing the ability of health professionals to deliver efficient care .
In short , the healthcare industry stands to benefit immensely from Edge technologies . And with rising costs posing an on-going threat to people ’ s access to healthcare services – these innovations and their ability to boost efficiencies and deliver better value , should be embraced quickly . p
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