Managing the Environment for IoT Systems - Toward a "Smart Hospital"

Abstract

Background: A "smart hospital" is a concept in which various kinds of data can be automatically acquired and analyzed. The acquired data may include patient, staff, device, facility, environmental, and financial data. The Internet of Things (IoT) is a hot topic worldwide, with IoT Systems being introduced to a wide variety of settings, including in the medical field. IoT systems are essential to making a hospital smart. However, the benefits of its use will be not realized if the infrastructure necessary for efficient IoT is not in place. Methods:The present situation of and problems with the introduction of IoT into hospitals are summarized, with a focus on the electromagnetic environment. Results:The careful introduction of an IoT system can result in time-savings by the hospital staff, time that can be used for patient treatment and improving the hospital environment, which leads to raising the quality of treatment. Conclusion:In order to install and make IoT systems work safely and efficiently, managing the environment is the most important consideration, especially for wireless communication. The type and composition of IoT depends on the infrastructure, including the environment. Figure: 1 Structure of an IoT type information system.