The opportunity in #healthcare IoT is estimated to be $2.5 trillion by 2025. How are we embracing this change?
During the #PhilipsChat, on the 10th April 2017, we asked questions related to the current trends and focus areas that the Healthcare IT Industry, Medical Device Manufacturers, Hospitals and Startups will need to keep in view in the near and short-term while making their organisation ready for the Digital Transformation that can be and will be enabled by #IoT in Healthcare.
A great discussion ensued that has spawned this blog series. Presenting the insights shared by M. R. Srinivas Prasad (@prsdsrnvs) on #IoT in Healthcare #PhilipsChat. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._R._Srinivasaprasad)
Q1: In the near term (1-3 years), What are the top 3 innovations in IoT that can benefit healthcare?:
M. R. Srinivas Prasad: In the emerging markets the IOT devices that would play an important role in extending care to the homes and community, would be those that can enable remote monitoring of cardiac patients, COPD patients and pregnancy monitoring in the rural community. These devices could be devices like Connect diagnostic ECG, Low cost but reliable wearables to monitor basic vital signs and breathing patterns and connected intelligent fetal dopplers to help monitor the child during birth helped by midwives
Q2: Is an IoT based system going to be a utility or a service?:
M. R. Srinivas Prasad: This will be a mix of both. It can (also) be an Outcome-based pricing model which is a variant implementation of the Service Model.
Q3. Do you see any device, connected via any protocol and with any cloud; as the future, if yes how will that be achieved? Standards?:
M. R. Srinivas Prasad: Need to adhere to Continua standard for these devices for open connectivity but in the near term I see that cost will prevail over the interoperability standard if regulatory bodies don’t ensure conformance from the start.
Q4: In India (or your country), what are the Digital Infrastructure requirements for enabling IoT based Innovations in Healthcare?:
M. R. Srinivas Prasad: A change in the mindset of going from paper to paperless is needed. Then there is a need to educate hospitals “Software is not free”. In addition, enabling IoT will need reliable telecom networks, work with the ecosystem to set up datacenters. Maturity & innovation around commercial business models will be a need Supporting infrastructure like connected ambulances, trained paramedics & and efficient transportation system will help.
Q5. How can hospitals leverage #IoT based solutions for service delivery and patient care? :
M. R. Srinivas Prasad: Postoperative care can be shifted to the patient’s home. This can help free up beds in the hospital which can help in increase revenue to the hospital from a new patient. Hospital-acquired infections can be reduced and finally, in bringing down the cost of care, the benefit that can be extended to the patient.
Q6: What are the aspects of Connected Care for the Patient Care Continuum?
M. R. Srinivas Prasad: From Philips Healthcare point of view Connected care for the Patient Care Continuum comprises of Healthy Living, Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment and Homecare. Here’s a video that explains these aspects https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe-KxiiIyNI
Q7. Please share usecases for Connected Care for: Healthy Living, Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment, Homecare:
M. R. Srinivas Prasad: (elaborated on each of the aspects of Connected Care for the Patient Care Continuum)
#HealthyLiving There are many in the market but it is important to choose the right one like the ones which are accurate e.g. Philips watch. Eating healthy food but tasty from an Indian cuisine context means fried food. Philips air fryer helps air fry tasty healthy food.
#Prevention Breathing Fresh & clean air is important for us to avoid pulmonary complications in countries like ours where pollution levels are high. #Philips Air Purifier helps address this issue
#Diagnosis Early diagnosis is critical to increase survival rate and reduce the cost of treatment. Use of AI in helping clinicians early diagnosis and also managing a larger population base can help solve the India challenges. Either for aiding in detection of infectious diseases like TB or identifying lesions from brain and breast scans.
#Treatment Minimally invasive devices are the key here . Low dose interventional X-ray systems or mobile surgery systems . Radiation planning systems which aid accurate and the right dose planning.
#HomeCare Monitoring of post cardiac patients and COPD patients at home. Philips Home Co business in india extends care into the home. This reduces cost of care and also helps the hospital to manage more new patients. Monitoring compliance to medication is another key aspect when extending care to home.
#Prevention Breathing Fresh & clean air is important for us to avoid pulmonary complications in countries like ours where pollution levels are high. #Philips Air Purifier helps address this issue
#Diagnosis Early diagnosis is critical to increase survival rate and reduce the cost of treatment. Use of AI in helping clinicians early diagnosis and also managing a larger population base can help solve the India challenges. Either for aiding in detection of infectious diseases like TB or identifying lesions from brain and breast scans.
#Treatment Minimally invasive devices are the key here . Low dose interventional X-ray systems or mobile surgery systems . Radiation planning systems which aid accurate and the right dose planning.
#HomeCare Monitoring of post cardiac patients and COPD patients at home. Philips Home Co business in india extends care into the home. This reduces cost of care and also helps the hospital to manage more new patients. Monitoring compliance to medication is another key aspect when extending care to home.
Q8: What are the Healthcare based Smart City components? How can Local, State and National Government’s make #IoT solutions in healthcare economically viable?:
M. R. Srinivas Prasad: Government should step in with policies that support in “giving the last mile connectivity” to decentralize healthcare (and) help in the convergence of Mobile technology, Consumer engagement and Payment reforms.
Additionally, Population management to understand disease profiling, to understand the spread of infectious diseases like malaria, typhoid etc. Smart ambulances. Garbage clearing monitoring. Air quality monitoring device across the city. Adequate availability of AED ‘s and accessible and connected. These are all related to health care.
Q9. How can private hospitals justify the RoI’s of Smart Hospital Components?
M. R. Srinivas Prasad: Demanding solutions from healthcare companies. Looking at OPEx models where the capex requirement is low. Productivity improvement from workflow efficiencies. Productivity gains or clinicians from using AI and smart tools. Better clinical decisions and patient re-admissions which will be enhance patient stickiness and also enhance the brand which will drive more patients to the hospital.
Additionally, Population management to understand disease profiling, to understand the spread of infectious diseases like malaria, typhoid etc. Smart ambulances. Garbage clearing monitoring. Air quality monitoring device across the city. Adequate availability of AED ‘s and accessible and connected. These are all related to health care.
Q9. How can private hospitals justify the RoI’s of Smart Hospital Components?
M. R. Srinivas Prasad: Demanding solutions from healthcare companies. Looking at OPEx models where the capex requirement is low. Productivity improvement from workflow efficiencies. Productivity gains or clinicians from using AI and smart tools. Better clinical decisions and patient re-admissions which will be enhance patient stickiness and also enhance the brand which will drive more patients to the hospital.
Q10. Tell us a 5 Year view of IoT in Healthcare and what would a Patient Experience in a Smart Hospital?M. R. Srinivas Prasad: A seamless experience which helps the hospital in its business, helps the clinicians make better decisions, helps patients by reducing their healthcare costs and the insurance providers become more efficient and manage their premiums better. A win win for all. Example from the onset of chest pain to early diagnosis, to emergency care, seamless patient data flow into the hospital EMR’s. Flow or patient context and information right through the various departments in the hospital including radiology, cardiology, critical care and also seamless extension of this care into home or the community post discharge and post operative care on remote care settings. A seamless experience in a distributed care environment
Q11. What areas of IoT based innovations are you looking to partner with Startups for? Can you give us two areas? M. R. Srinivas Prasad: Advanced AI models to aid early diagnosis of chronic diseases – Cardiac, COPD, Oncology and Mother and Child space. Smart IOT devices to support Monitoring of patients under various clinical conditions post discharge. Pregnancy monitoring and post natal care. Solutions in the healthcare informatics space and connect care solutions to help extend care into the community and homes
To one other question from Mr. NS Ramnath (@rmnth): On a scale of 1 to 10, where do you think the sensors in wearables in the market today stand?
M. R. Srinivas Prasad: “It’s in a very nascent stage but with a huge potential and key to help solve our healthcare challenges.”
Mr. M.R. Srinivas Prasad, signed-off from the chat by urging the participants, “let’s define the future of healthcare for a better India and a better world. Technology is key! Cheers”
References
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Here is the original Blog Post announcing the #PhilipsChat Tweetchat : http://blog.hcitexpert.com/2017/04/philipschat-on-iot-in-healthcare.html
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#IoT and #AI: Potent combo redefining healthcare by M. R Srinivas Prasad @prsdsrnvs on Livemint http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/iuOHAO5UCn1qzH2q5JwJvL/IoT-and-artificial-intelligence-Potent-combO-redefining-hea.html
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Curated list of Tweets from the #PhilipsChat: https://twitter.com/i/moments/852242427008233473
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Author
M. R. Srinivas Prasad
CEO, Philips Innovation Campus, India
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