IoT Security

12IoT Use Cases and Implementations: Healthcare

Mehrnoosh Monshizadeh Vikramajeet Khatri Oskari Koskimies and Mauri Honkanen

12.1 Introduction

Recently, there has been considerable global interest in exploiting digital healthcare solutions, often known as eHealth in order to improve traditional healthcare mechanisms. Currently, fewer physicians are taking care of more patients than ever; doctors do not have enough time to educate patients about their condition or care plans which causes uncertainty, stress, non‐adherence to care plans, and unnecessary hospitalization. On the other hand, global healthcare spending is projected to reach $8.7 trillion by 2020 with an annual growth rate of 4.1% in 2017–2021. This growth is driven by a number of factors such as, chronic diseases (becoming more common), aging, increasing population, expansion in developing markets, new though costlier medical treatments, and rising labor costs [1,2].

Certain chronic conditions, such as hypertension, excess weight and diabetes, are risk factors for stroke. A stroke is a condition where the flow of blood carrying oxygen and nutrients to a portion of the brain is reduced or blocked. Stroke is the second most common cause of death worldwide and ranks third most Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY) [3].

As seen in Figure 12.1, in Finland with a population of 5.5 million, there are about 82 000 stroke patients and every year about 25 000 new people are impacted by stroke. As many as 17% of patients suffer ...