ABSTRACT
In these pages we argue that across the spectrum of healthcare, a spike in innovation that leverages technology is transforming the industry from a disaggregated, bricks-andmortar system to a higher-quality, more efficient, and accountable delivery architecture. Integral to this system transformation is the employment of digital solutions that connect the elements of care – people, places and things. The aim – to streamline healthcare delivery both within the facility and at the point of care – in the facility, at home, anywhere. These digital solutions include diagnostic and treatment tools, remote monitoring, education, alerts and reminders, monitoring and early intervention based solutions. The tools of this “care anywhere” include wearable devices, apps, outreach, and clinical collaboration based on information liquidity. And the enabler of this catalog of solutions is the Internet of Things (“ IoT”). The IoT is the next stage in the evolution of smart technologies, where devices “talk” to each other and to humans. It has the potential to change the dynamic of health care itself. It’s about how different devices are all connected with one another, and how we are able to better share information and make wellinformed, data-driven decisions. But the IoT in healthcare is not simply about making digital connections, it’s about recasting the complex interplay of the industry’s stakeholders – with an increasingly central role assigned to the patient. Making the leap to the IoT isn’t a seamless process - making the transition to a unified data architecture will require careful planning and execution.
