How does the healthcare industry use Internet of Things (IoT) devices?

The healthcare industry utilizes Internet of Things (IoT) devices primarily to monitor patients' vital signs, such as heart rate and oxygen levels. IoT devices, such as wearable health monitors, provide real-time data that healthcare providers can use to track patient health continuously and accurately. This capability enhances patient care by enabling timely interventions if a patient's condition changes or deteriorates. The constant monitoring allows for more personalized treatment plans and helps in emergency situations, where immediate information regarding a patient's vital signs can be critical.

While automating billing processes and scheduling patient appointments are important functions within the healthcare industry, they do not directly involve the real-time data collection and monitoring capabilities that IoT devices provide. Similarly, filing insurance claims is a necessary administrative task but does not leverage the IoT technology that focuses on continuous patient monitoring and data analysis. Therefore, the use of IoT in monitoring patients' heart rates and oxygen levels stands out as the most relevant application of this technology in healthcare.