In recent years, technology has been a great ally for hospitals and clinics, bringing innovations that optimize the work of healthcare professionals and improve the quality of patient care. In particular, one of the main technological changes that has revolutionized the hospital environment is the Internet of Things (IoT).
IoT is a technology that connects physical devices to the internet, allowing for the exchange of information and remote control of these objects. In the hospital context, IoMT (Internet of Medical Things) can be applied in various ways, from real-time patient monitoring to the management of equipment and stocks of medications and materials.
Process automation is an increasingly evident need in hospitals and clinics. With IoMT, it is possible to reduce the time spent on manual and repetitive tasks, allowing healthcare professionals to dedicate more time to patient care. Furthermore, IoMT can contribute to the reduction of human errors and failures, increasing patient safety and improving the efficiency of hospital processes.
According to a report by Research and Markets , the global IoMT market in healthcare is expected to grow from US$127.7 billion in 2023 to US$289.2 billion in 2028. This means that more hospitals, clinics, and healthcare professionals will be using IoT devices to improve their medical services and treatments.
IoMT Applications in Hospital Infrastructure
Gas Networks: Through sensors installed at consumption points, in power plant controllers, or in the network itself, it is possible to collect real-time data on flow, pressure, voltage and current, temperature, number of activations, start of operation, or any other information for operational analysis. This data is sent to a cloud platform, where it is analyzed in real time and stored for notification and visualization in dashboards and an app, respectively. Thus, operations receive advance notifications of operational degradation, while managers can monitor performance, identify potential failures or leaks, and optimize resource use. Among the monitored systems, we can mention:
- Cryogenic Tanks,
- Reserve Centers,
- Medical Compressed Air Generation Modules
- Medical Air Mixers
- Vacuum Modules Alarm Panels (PAE) and (PAO)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Equipment
The solution monitors equipment such as compressors and chillers that are part of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) infrastructure. Continuous monitoring of the infrastructure allows for the detection of anomalies, issuing automatic notifications via an app to the maintenance team before the failure becomes irreversible, thus ensuring the continuity of services.
By monitoring parameters such as voltage, current, humidity, water temperature, and pressure, it is possible to ensure the best operating conditions for various pieces of equipment vital to the functioning of MRI and imaging systems.
The system also features comprehensive control dashboards with real-time readings, as well as historical data, predictive analytics, alarms, and triggered notifications, providing increased operational safety and reduced maintenance costs.
The Cold Chain
Monitoring the cold chain in hospitals is crucial to ensure the effectiveness and integrity of temperature-sensitive products, such as medications, vaccines, and biological samples, which are stored and transported at controlled temperatures. Inadequate temperatures can compromise product quality and, consequently, endanger patient health.
This process is complex because it involves temperature control at every stage, from storage to product distribution. Maintaining the temperature within a specific range, which varies depending on the product type, is essential to ensure it retains its properties and effectiveness.
IoMT technology can significantly contribute to this task. Using sensors, it's possible to monitor temperature in real time and receive alerts in case of variations. Furthermore, it's possible to store the data in the cloud and access detailed reports on the product's temperature history.
This technology allows for greater precision and efficiency in monitoring the cold chain, reducing the risk of product loss and ensuring patient safety. Furthermore, the use of sensors can help identify problems more quickly, enabling immediate action to correct the fault.
Another advantage of using IoMT technology in cold chain monitoring is cost reduction. With an automated monitoring system, it is possible to reduce the need for on-site inspections, as well as prevent losses due to temperature increases.
Boiler Monitoring
The boiler is responsible for supplying the steam used in various processes within the hospital, such as sterilizing equipment and surgical materials. In addition, the boiler is also responsible for heating water for bathrooms and other activities.
Boiler malfunctions can lead to serious consequences, such as burns and even explosions. Therefore, constant monitoring is essential to identify potential problems before they become critical.
In this sense, IoMT has a fundamental role to play. With installed sensors, it is possible to monitor various parameters in real time, such as temperature, steam in the network, and water pressure.
This data is sent to an analytics platform, which uses algorithms to identify potential problems and alert those responsible for equipment maintenance. In addition, the platform can also generate reports with information on boiler performance over time, allowing hospital managers to make data-driven decisions regarding preventive or condition-based maintenance (CBM) or equipment replacement.
Monitoring of Primary Hospital Substations
The importance of monitoring the primary electrical substation in hospitals is undeniable. With IoMT (Interconnected Metering Device), it is possible to monitor various aspects, such as temperature, humidity, voltage, and current, for example. Any variation in any monitored parameter is identified, and through alarms, maintenance teams are informed to act immediately, allowing for the continuity of operations.
Remote Patient Monitoring
IoMT can remotely monitor patients, allowing the collection of vital data and transmitting it to the medical team in real time. This enables continuous monitoring of the patient's health, management of chronic diseases, and early detection of complications.
QI Control – Intelligent Management and Monitoring of Hospital Infrastructure
In an exclusive partnership with White Martins, Above-Net launched QI Control, an intelligent IoT monitoring solution for hospital infrastructure.
QI Control enables intelligent management of hospital infrastructure, providing information on the operational conditions of control centers and networks, correlating measurements, and generating real-time alarms for adverse situations, such as failures or potential wear and tear on hospital operations.
Control and Notifications via App
The QI Control app is practical and easy to use. The main screen displays active or recent alarms from all monitored locations within the hospital network.
By clicking on the alarm or equipment, all alarms and parameters are displayed, listed in order of criticality limits. This gives the technician immediate access to information that could impact operations in the short term.
In addition to quantitative parameter information, the application provides real-time visualization of monitoring diagrams, trend graphs, and a documentation repository for maintenance tracking.
Control via web
QI Control offers dashboards for controlling and monitoring the entire hospital infrastructure.
Through an intuitive and easy-to-use interface, the system offers, on a main page, panels of smart alarms in real time, listed by priority. Alternatively, users can search for the hospital in the network or the monitored equipment using a Google-style search or by location on a map.
By detailing any equipment, the system is able to monitor simple and accumulated parameters, and also provide customized function calculations with their respective alarms and notifications.
In the graphs section, you can cross-reference historical information for any system parameter, export it to various formats, and even generate instant reports.
Are you interested in an intelligent industrial IoT monitoring solution? Fill out the form below and we will contact you:
