Articles-Thought Leadership Five Factors Changing the Delivery of Care | Page 5

The Internet of Caring Things
In 2005, there were 2.5 billion connected devices,
mostly PCs, smartphones, and tablets. By 2020, there
will be over 30 billion connected devices. Most of
these will not be PCs, smartphones, or tablets
(Gartner, 2013). A hundred new “things” come online
every second (Cisco, 2013).
According to the futurists at Trend-Watching, “The
internet of caring things means connected objects
that serve consumers’ most important needs:
physical and mental wellbeing, safety, security,
oversight of loved ones, and more. [Most of us] are
probably already familiar with the innovations that
have blazed an early caring trail. The Nest Learning
Thermostat, NIKE FuelBand, and Fitbit are
examples… Life amid an internet of caring things
generates an avalanche of data: on daily movements,
mood, sleep, and interactions with the home.” This
new “datasphere” is creating great opportunity for
care outside the hospital.
Savvy patients—of every age—will demand
innovation in healthcare that matches the rapid
technological advances they experience every day.
Three innovations from the internet of caring things
are already transforming the care continuum.
Remote patient monitoring uses digital tools to collect
health data such as vital signs, weight, blood pressure,
blood sugar, blood oxygen levels, heart rate, and
electrocardiograms. Studies show remote patient
monitoring results in more live-time data sharing,
which can lead to more tailored care and better
health outcomes.
Digital pills address medication compliance problems.
Failure to comply with a prescribed medication
regimen leads to an estimated $290 billion annually
in preventable readmissions, ER visits, and
unnecessary office visits (New York Times). FDA-
approved digital pills are embedded with tiny sensors
the size of salt grains. Interacting with a smartphone
application, sensors measure everything from the
time the pill was taken, including when the person
rested, how physically active they were, body
temperature, and heart rate.
Wander management wearables are used to monitor
memory care patients, especially those with
Alzheimer’s. Studies show that 60% of Alzheimer’s
patients will wander from their home or care facility,
with about 30,000 reported cases a year. One in 14
loses his life if not found within 12 hours. Family and
caregivers can set up a “safe zone” and will be alerted
if the patient leaves the perimeter. If they wander
farther, a GPS tracker will send their location in real
time to any mobile device that has the application.
As continuum of care reimbursement is tied more and
more to VBP, managed care, population health, and
the adoption of technology, the sector is poised to
become a progressive and cost-effective leader in the
healthcare industry.
As continuum of care reimbursement is tied more and more
to VBP, managed care, population health, and the adoption
of technology, the sector is poised to become a progressive
and cost-effective leader in the healthcare industry.