Shaken by the sudden, unexpected pandemic, the country’s healthcare sector has shifted to a more technologically reliant approach to addressing the current health crisis. The application of the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) in the health sector, according to a Philippine global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions, is changing the way healthcare providers deliver services.
Today’s internet-connected devices are intended to improve efficiencies, lower care costs, and drive better healthcare outcomes. Organisations are leveraging the potential of the Internet of Medical Things technologies as computing power and wireless capabilities improve. IoMT tools are rapidly changing healthcare delivery due to their ability to collect, analyse, and transmit health data. These applications are playing an important role in tracking and preventing chronic illnesses for both patients and clinicians, and they are poised to shape the future of care.
The Rise of Telemedicine
Telemedicine, or the use of telecommunications technologies for various aspects of healthcare, has become an integral part of medical practice in the Philippines, particularly considering quarantine guidelines and other safety protocols that limit face-to-face consultations.
As per a teleconferencing company report, the country’s Department of Health (DOH) has engaged with over 100,000 stakeholders and patients per month over the last year. The Department of Health also recorded 17,400 sessions, or approximately 2.3 million minutes, of virtual meetings and consultations the previous year.
Changing the dynamics using ‘Smart’ Tech
Meanwhile, the implementation of “smart” technologies for health management alters the dynamics in hospitals and clinics. Since the beginning of the pandemic, some healthcare institutions have been deploying IoMT and other technologies that improve hospital design and sanitation, such as germ-killing UV light-emitting devices, thermal scanners, and even contact tracing apps.
“By using these new technologies, capturing medical data is now made easier. It also benefits the patients, healthcare providers, and even the entire healthcare systems as it makes for accurate and contactless diagnosis, and, of course, improved efficiency, security, and regulatory compliances,” said, Head of Channels at the Philippine’s global provider.
The ‘Always On’ Era
However, as these innovations become increasingly important in the sector’s operations and COVID-19 response, IT managers face new challenges. One of the most difficult challenges is ensuring that these digital tools are always available to maintain a healthcare ecosystem that includes the data centre and all medical equipment.
“IT managers in the healthcare sector must ensure a reliable power supply. For healthcare facilities, quality power for all the components of the entire healthcare ecosystem is their first line of defence against disruptions in critical healthcare operations, may it be COVID-19-related or not. After all, their labs, diagnostic equipment, and even their computer rooms and data centres need quality uninterrupted power to run smoothly and efficiently,” added Head of Channels.
A Philippine global provider has developed a range of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) suitable for the specific needs of today’s hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centres, and testing facilities to assist the country’s health sector, which remains on the front lines despite the pandemic.
OpenGov Asia reported that the importance of data in true digital transformation cannot be overstated. With the right information, tomorrow’s healthcare providers will be able to make more intelligent, data-driven care decisions, improving patient outcomes and lowering healthcare costs. This type of connectivity – securely and seamlessly connecting data, people, institutions, systems, and applications – is the type of transformational data-driven technology that will prepare the healthcare industry for the future.
Advances in digital healthcare technologies such as artificial intelligence, VR/AR, 3D printing, robotics, and nanotechnology are shaping the future of healthcare right in front of our eyes. We must become acquainted with the most recent developments to be able to control technology rather than the other way around. Working hand in hand with technology is the future of healthcare, and healthcare workers must embrace emerging healthcare technologies to remain relevant in the coming years.
