{"id":3867,"date":"2020-09-28T17:21:08","date_gmt":"2020-09-28T22:21:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stratospherenetworks.com\/blog\/?p=3867"},"modified":"2020-09-28T17:21:08","modified_gmt":"2020-09-28T22:21:08","slug":"how-internet-of-things-devices-are-helping-healthcare-providers-combat-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stratospherenetworks.com\/blog\/how-internet-of-things-devices-are-helping-healthcare-providers-combat-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"How Internet of Things Devices Are Helping Healthcare Providers Combat COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"TheImagine you\u2019re a healthcare provider treating patients quarantined in their homes. How can you monitor their symptoms while minimizing your chances of getting sick? In one case, a healthcare worker addressed that issue by asking patients to step out onto their apartment balconies and using a drone to take their temperatures via infrared thermometer, according to the Technology Networks article \u201cUsing the Internet of Things to Fight Virus Outbreaks<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s just one example of how Internet of Things (IoT) devices<\/a> have proven useful as people around the world seek to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. These internet-connected devices \u2013 which assist with the collection, transfer, analysis and storage of data \u2013 have incredible potential as a way to deliver vital care, carry out disinfection and overall perform important tasks while still staying socially distant.<\/p>\n

The IoT Before and After the Pandemic<\/h2>\n

The network of smart devices installed in homes, office buildings, factories and other spaces around the world has ballooned in recent years as we seek to automate and streamline various processes. These gadgets can tackle a wide range of tasks, from watching for visitors or intruders at the front door to monitoring the temperature in restaurant walk-in freezers, according to the EHSToday article \u201cHow IoT is Helping Businesses Adapt to Pandemic-Related Disruption<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2019, Gartner predicted<\/a> that the enterprise and automotive IoT market would grow to 5.8 billion endpoints in 2020, a 21 percent year-over-year increase. Of course, the coronavirus pandemic has since made its mark on the IoT market.<\/p>\n

For example, downloads of apps for some consumer IoT devices have declined, indicating dwindling interest in those items, according to the IoT Analytics article \u201cThe impact of Covid-19 on the Internet of Things \u2013 now and beyond the Great Lockdown: Part 1<\/a>.\u201d Philips Hue \u2013 a company that creates smart lights you can control with a smartphone or tablet \u2013 saw its app drop in rank from No. 233 to No. 351 between Jan. 31, 2020 and April 6, 2020.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, remote access and control capabilities have become vital in this era of social distancing and quarantining. For instance, usage of Librestream\u2019s Onsight Connect remote expert software \u2013 which gives end users the ability to carry out inspections and other tasks from afar \u2013 doubled between February and March of this year, IoT Analytics reports.<\/p>\n

Most importantly, internet-connected devices have emerged as valuable tools for empowering healthcare providers as they seek to treat COVID-19 patients while minimizing the risk of infection for staff members.<\/p>\n

IoT Applications for Healthcare Providers<\/h2>\n

In addition to taking patients\u2019 temperatures like the drone mentioned at the beginning of this blog entry, IoT devices can make treating patients with the coronavirus easier and safer for healthcare providers by performing numerous other tasks. Here are just some of the notable applications for the IoT during the pandemic, according to the article \u201cInternet of things (IoT) applications to fight against COVID-19 pandemic<\/a>\u201d and IoT Analytics.<\/p>\n