10 Internet of Things IoT Healthcare Examples

The Internet of Things (IoT) has allowed for significant innovation and improved patient care for healthcare organizations. IoT devices in healthcare are empowering new medical devices, therapies, treatments, analysis, and care. Commonly known as IoMT, these connected medical devices are transforming patient outcomes and enabling more efficient work across healthcare teams. These devices, while transformative, require specific methods for securing against cyberattacks. Still, the benefits these devices provide patients and clinicians typically outweigh the cons. With the right understanding of these devices, the networks they connect to, and proper IoT security practices in place, they can work harmoniously to achieve a better experience for patients and clinicians alike.

What is IoT and IoMT?

Internet of Things, also known as IoT, are physical objects embedded with sensors, software, and network connectivity that enable them to collect and exchange data over the Internet. These smart devices range from everyday consumer products like thermostats, wearables, and appliances to sophisticated industrial equipment and sensors. They can operate autonomously, communicating with other devices and systems without requiring human intervention. 

IoMT devices are used in multiple healthcare sectors to address myriad challenges that were previously challenging to solve. For example, IoT-connected MRI machines can send diagnostic imaging to clinicians in real time, creating faster diagnoses and better patient communication. Transmitting this data digitally has even more benefits. By reducing the need for frequent in-person visits and enabling remote care, IoMT not only improves accessibility to healthcare services but also significantly lowers costs for both patients and providers. The integration of IoMT in healthcare is paving the way for a more proactive, efficient, and patient-centric approach to medicine, ultimately resulting in improved health outcomes and a higher quality of life for individuals. These ten examples of IoT in Healthcare illustrate how IoT technology is facilitating medical treatment, aiding healthcare professionals, and preventing illness and what the utilization of IoT devices for medical purposes means for IoT security in healthcare organizations.

10 IoT of Healthcare Examples and Applications

1. IoT Healthcare Example: Glucose Monitoring

Glucose monitoring has traditionally been complex for more than 37 million Americans with diabetes. If the levels fluctuate periodically, then intermittent or manual testing may not be adequate to distinguish the issue.

IoT glucose monitoring devices with embedded or wearable body sensors help minimize the risk of death by diabetes by providing continuous, automated monitoring of patient glucose levels. It makes it possible to detect sugar levels at an earlier stage so that necessary steps can be taken to recover them faster. The need to keep manual records is also eliminated with the introduction of IoT glucose monitoring devices.

2. IoT Healthcare Example: IoT Heart Rate Monitoring (ECG)

Like glucose monitoring, heart rate monitoring is also a challenging process in healthcare facilities, and the number of heart patients is rapidly increasing. Various IoMT devices are available to monitor heart rate and detect heart rate & pulse in heart patients, such as electrocardiographs.

Few sensors connected to heart rate monitoring devices send and store real-time pulse rates on the cloud, and it would be accessible from anywhere over the globe. These devices are helpful in emergencies and provide data security to prevent IoT Security Risks.

3. IoT Healthcare Example: Remote Patient Monitoring

Why are most patients readmitted to the hospital after treatment and surgery? The answer is clear; lack of monitoring patients. Remote monitoring of IoT medical devices plays an effective role because they automatically collect health metrics such as temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and more from patients who are no longer physically present in a healthcare facility.

After collecting this data, it sends it to the software application or cloud from where a patient/doctor can view it. If an IoMT device senses unusual data, it generates an alert to notify both the patient and the doctor. Remote monitoring devices are easy to operate; however, the security and privacy of highly personal data these devices collect are a cybersecurity challenge healthcare organizations will need to address.

4. IoT Healthcare Example: MRI Machines

IoT-connected MRI machines are revolutionizing medical imaging by seamlessly integrating advanced technology with traditional diagnostic tools. These smart devices leverage internet connectivity, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of MRI scans. By incorporating IoT sensors, these machines can transmit real-time data on their performance, enabling remote monitoring and predictive maintenance. This connectivity allows healthcare providers to optimize machine utilization, reduce downtime, and streamline patient scheduling. IoT-enabled MRIs can also securely transfer and store images in cloud-based systems, facilitating easier access and collaboration among medical professionals. The integration of machine learning algorithms further enhances image analysis, potentially leading to faster and more accurate diagnoses. Additionally, these smart MRI machines can be remotely accessed for diagnostics and troubleshooting, reducing the need for on-site technician visits. This not only cuts operational costs but also ensures minimal disruption to patient care. As IoT technology continues to advance, MRI machines are becoming more intelligent, efficient, and patient-centric, promising a future where high-quality diagnostic imaging is more accessible and cost-effective for healthcare providers and patients alike.

5. IoT Healthcare Example: IoT Infusion Pumps

Infusion pumps are among the most safety-critical devices in clinical use. They deliver precisely calibrated doses of medications, nutrients, and fluids directly to patients, and errors in administration can have serious or fatal consequences.

IoT-enabled infusion pumps layer network connectivity onto this precision, allowing care teams to remotely monitor infusion status, remaining fluid volume, and real-time alerts for conditions such as occlusions or air bubbles –accessible through web portals or mobile applications. Many modern smart pumps also incorporate drug libraries and dosage error-reduction systems that verify programmed doses against clinical guidelines before delivery.

Given their direct role in patient care, infusion pumps warrant rigorous and continuous security assessment, including evaluation of firmware versions, vulnerability profiles, and network communication patterns.

6. IoT Healthcare Example: Hand Hygiene Monitoring

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) remain a significant patient safety concern, and hand hygiene compliance is one of the most effective means of reducing their incidence. IoT-connected hand hygiene monitoring systems track compliance in real time – reminding staff and visitors to sanitize upon entering patient rooms and providing facility-wide data on adherence patterns across units and shifts.

Some systems provide additional capability, offering step-by-step sanitization guidance tailored to specific patient contexts. The result is a behavioral workflow supported by real-time data, giving infection control teams actionable information to identify compliance gaps and drive measurable improvement.

7. IoT Healthcare Example: Connected Inhalers

The inhaler is the most crucial device for controlling asthma disease. Asthma is a tragic disease that is not curable and often involves sudden, unpredictable attacks. At that instant, an inhaler acts as a significant cure to overcome these sudden attacks. 

Healthcare IoT provides a smart solution to deal with the problem effectively. An IIoT-connected inhaler is a sensor-connected inhaler that alerts the patient by monitoring the frequency of attacks and triggering factors, such as environmental factors, to prevent future asthma attacks. These smart inhalers can also alert the patient when they misuse them or leave them at home.

8. IoT Healthcare Example: Hearing Aid

More than 400 million people suffer from progressive hearing loss, which poses a significant concern. IoMT-connected devices, such as IoT-based hearing aids,  can make life easier and safer for those with hearing loss. This IoT hearing aid can listen to several conversations at once or focus on a single sound in a noisy environment. As hearing aids become more connected and more capable, they enter the broader IoMT security landscape – a consideration for both healthcare organizations and the patients who rely on them.

9. IoT Healthcare Example: IoT Security Cameras

IoT security cameras are revolutionizing healthcare facilities by enhancing safety, improving patient care, and streamlining operations. These smart devices go beyond traditional surveillance, integrating advanced analytics and real-time monitoring capabilities. In hospitals and clinics, IoT cameras provide continuous visual oversight of critical areas, allowing staff to remotely monitor patients and detect potential security threats. The cameras’ intelligent features can automatically alert personnel to unusual activities or patient distress, enabling faster response times. Additionally, these systems contribute to operational efficiency by tracking equipment movement, managing visitor access, and ensuring compliance with safety protocols. IoT cameras also play a crucial role in preventing patient wandering and enhancing overall facility security.

The implementation of these systems, however, requires careful attention to patient privacy and regulatory compliance, particularly under HIPAA. Healthcare organizations must ensure that network-connected cameras are properly segmented, consistently patched, and actively monitored to prevent them from serving as vectors for unauthorized network access.

10. IoT Healthcare Example: Robotic Surgery

Robotic surgical systems enable surgeons to perform complex procedures with enhanced precision, visualization, and control – frequently through minimally invasive approaches that reduce patient trauma and accelerate recovery. IoT connectivity allows these systems to transmit real-time performance data, support remote clinical consultation, and integrate with hospital records and imaging platforms.

As robotic surgery becomes more prevalent and more capable, the security of these systems carries direct patient safety implications. Unauthorized access to or interference with a robotic surgical system during a procedure represents one of the most serious potential consequences of inadequate IoMT security, making this device category a high priority for any healthcare security program.

Why IoT Healthcare Security Matters & How Asimily Helps Secure IoT Devices

In an interconnected healthcare network, IoT devices create a cybersecurity challenge for healthcare organizations. In healthcare, these IoT devices often process and generate sensitive PHI. Due to their lack of native security features and the PHI they access, the healthcare industry is a prime target for cyberattackers. Given that many healthcare organizations have hundreds, if not thousands, of IoMT devices, managing the security of these devices across an entire health system is cumbersome at best when done manually.

Asimily is the only complete cyber asset and exposure management platform for IoT, OT, and IoMT. Asimily provides unmatched visibility into all connected devices on a network, not just IoMT – closing crucial security gaps from the world’s riskiest devices. Asimily identifies and classifies IoT cybersecurity threats and prioritizes vulnerabilities to drive efficient use of resources to actionably reduce risk in your unique environment. To learn more about Asimily’s robust threat detection, business continuity, and disaster recovery, download our State of IoMT Security in Healthcare, first-party data report, or contact us today.