5 Ways IoT Improves Patient Safety Today

Recently, I was stunned to find out that nearly 400,000 patients (!) die annually from PREVENTABLE medical errors. Right now, it is the third leading cause of death in the US.

Things like these get you thinking about how you can change that. As a tech professional in healthcare, I see the adoption of IoT solutions for healthcare as a massive leap in the right direction.

Basically, IoT is creating safer environments for patients through the five key applications. And that’s what we’re going to discuss below.

#1 – Optimizing Environmental Conditions for Patient Recovery

Environmental factors such as oxygenation, humidity, pH, and Bioburden impact healing drastically. Unfortunately, few hospitals monitor them consistently. Studies show optimal temperature, humidity, light, and noise levels can reduce recovery time by up to 21%.

Smart Environmental Monitoring Systems:

You can monitor these conditions through the following IoT-powered solutions:

• Automated HVAC and lighting adjustments (Helvar Imagine, CoolAutomation);
• Wireless environmental sensors placed throughout patient areas (SenSource Wireless, T15e temperature tag);
• Alert systems for out-of-range conditions (VeaTrak);
• Central monitoring dashboards for facility management (Philips Healthcare Analytics, FacilityOS).

A rehabilitation center in Chicago implemented environmental optimization in their post-surgical ward. It resulted in a patient satisfaction score increase of 32%. Plus, the average recovery time dropped by 1.8 days.

Implementation Strategy:

1. Start with high-acuity areas where environmental control has the most impact;
2. Establish baselines through a 2-week monitoring period;
3. Deploy automated controls starting with temperature and humidity;
4. Add noise monitoring and mitigation strategies;
5. Implement circadian lighting systems in longer-stay units.

#2 – Eliminating Medication Administration Errors

Medication errors impact over 7 million patients annually. It costs healthcare institutions an estimated $40 billion in additional treatment expenses. And these errors are as costly as they are deadly.

IoT-enabled medication systems are changing this through:

Smart Medication Cabinets

• Alert staff to potential interactions or contraindications in real-time;
• Automatically document dispensing for EHR integration;
• Use RFID tracking to verify correct medication retrieval.

A hospital in Boston managed to decrease medical errors by 87% in just 6 months by simply implementing smart cabinets. These were connected to patient wristbands and required dual verification before administration.

Implementation Considerations:

1. Integration capability with existing EHR systems;
2. Staff training requirements (typically 4-8 hours per clinician);
3. Initial costs vs. long-term savings (ROI typically within 14-18 months);
4. Physical space requirements for hardware installation.

One nurse described the change: “Before, I’d triple-check everything and still worry. Now the system verifies each medication against the patient’s profile before I can even access it.”

#3 – Reducing Preventable Hospital Readmissions

Did you know that about 20% of all Medicare patients are readmitted within 30 days of discharge? It costs nearly $26 billion annually. It’s concerning, but also preventable through proper monitoring and early intervention.

What Remote Patient Monitoring Technology Do:

• Wearable sensors (Biofourmis BiovitalsHF, Biobeat) track vital signs and activity levels;
• Smart medication dispensers (Hero Health, MedMinder) ensure adherence;
• Mobile apps (Wanda Health, Philips eCareCoordinator) provide patient education and symptom reporting;
• AI algorithms (PhysIQ, Biofourmis AI) identify concerning trends before crisis points.

The technical implementation involves three layers:

1. Device layer: Patient-facing sensors and monitoring tools;
2. Connectivity layer: Secure data transmission protocols (often Bluetooth to smartphone, then cellular to cloud);
3. Analysis layer: AI systems that identify potential issues that might need intervention.

Advanced analytics tools can distinguish between normal and concerning trends. They also alert clinicians only when intervention is truly needed. I believe that the key to success here goes beyond data collection. You need to know exactly what to do with this data. With the integration of IoT technology in healthcare, facilities can now leverage advanced analytics tools that not only distinguish between normal and concerning trends but also alert clinicians only when intervention is truly needed, ensuring a more efficient and targeted approach to patient care. For those looking to delve deeper into how technology like the custom sleep medicine EHR is revolutionizing patient safety and care, exploring these IoT applications offers a glimpse into the future of healthcare.

#4 – Preventing Equipment Loss and Underutilization

The average hospital loses or misplaces $4,000 worth of equipment per bed annually. Meanwhile, utilization rates for critical equipment often hover around just 42%. That often creates bottlenecks, delaying care.

How IoT Asset Tracking Works:

• Mobile apps allow staff to quickly locate needed items;
• Small, low-power sensors attach to equipment;
• Cloud platforms aggregate data and generate insights;
• Indoor positioning systems track location in real-time.

Asset tracking tools examples:

Hospitals that implemented IoT asset tracking tools have reported:

• Equipment utilization increased from ~48% to up to 77%;
• Time spent searching for equipment decreased by up to 50%;
• Equipment loss cost reduced by 25%.

Asset tracking is surprisingly simple to deploy. Most systems use Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) or RFID technology. They require minimal installation disruption while providing immediate visibility into equipment location and usage patterns.

Deployment Steps:

1. Audit current equipment inventory and establish loss baselines.
2. Install beacon infrastructure throughout the facility.
3. Tag equipment based on value and utilization priority.
4. Train staff on location software and new workflows.
5. Establish regular reporting and optimization reviews.

#5 – Streamlining Staff Workflows and Reducing Burnout

Healthcare professionals have one of the highest burnout rates across all industries – about 35%. Herewith, the medical staff walk an average of 4-5 miles per shift.  30% of their time is generally spent on documentation and coordination rather than direct patient care. And this inefficiency, too, can be optimized using IoT. Below are a few examples:

• Automated documentation through voice recognition and sensors;
• Real-time location systems track staff movement patterns;
• Predictive staffing based on historical patterns and current conditions;
• Smart badges enable instant communication and task assignment.

Implementation Roadmap:

1. Map current workflows through observation and data collection.
2. Identify high-impact inefficiencies through analysis.
3. Deploy IoT infrastructure with minimal disruption (typically overnight).
4. Provide hands-on training during shifts rather than separate sessions.
5. Measure key metrics and adjust the system based on staff feedback.

The Future is Connected Care

IoT technology in healthcare helps save lives. And facilitates the work of healthcare professionals. I hope, in the near future, we’ll see more personalized care environments that adapt to each patient’s unique needs, which will be possible thanks to IoT.

If you want to learn more about Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), consult these resources:

• www.velvetech.com/internet-of-medical-things
• Bharat Academy IoMT Fundamentals
• “The Internet of Medical Things” (IET Publication)
• CIFAL York University IoMT Course