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What is the internet of medical things (IoMT)?

By Alexander S. Gillis

The internet of medical things (IoMT) is the collection of medical devices and applications that connect to healthcare IT systems through online computer networks. IoMT improves patient monitoring and care processes while also increasing operational efficiency and reducing costs.

In practice, IoMT in healthcare can include the following:

Medical devices equipped with Wi-Fi enable machine-to-machine communication, which is the basis of IoMT. IoMT devices also link to cloud platforms, where captured data is stored and analyzed. IoMT is also known as the healthcare internet of things (IoT).

The practice of using IoMT devices to monitor patients remotely in their homes is also referred to as telemedicine. This treatment spares patients from having to travel to a hospital or physician's office whenever they have a medical question or change in their condition.

How does IoMT affect healthcare?

IoMT increases the amount of health data available to caregivers, the variety of sources it comes from and the speed at which it is collected, transmitted and analyzed. More transmitted data improves both patients' and providers' decision-making capabilities.

IoMT provides the devices and networks that enable telemedicine and virtual care. Remote healthcare capabilities became popular during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to limit the number of patients traveling to healthcare facilities and to alleviate the stress on overburdened hospitals and other medical facilities.

Telemedicine makes it easier for people living outside of cities in more remote areas to get access to medical care in general. It also makes it easier for people everywhere to get access to specialists whom they might otherwise not be able to see.

What are the benefits of IoMT?

As part of the broader telemedicine infrastructure, IoMT offers the following advantages:

What are the challenges of IoMT?

IoT technology in the healthcare industry and medical settings also raises several issues, including the following:

Types of IoMT devices

There are many types of IoMT devices. They are often categorized based on their environment.

In-home IoMT

These devices, which include the following, are used in or placed around a patient's home:

Wearable IoMT

These devices are also known as on-body IoMT. They are connected to a person's body and record medical information about them. Wearable devices can be consumer- or medical-grade and include the following:

Mobile IoMT

These are mobile devices equipped to interface with medical tools and include the following:

Public IoMT

Also called community IoMT, these devices are dispersed throughout a geographic area and include the following:

In-hospital IoMT

Hospitals use devices with internet connectivity to facilitate patient care. The following are some examples of in-hospital IoMT devices:

What is the difference between IoMT and IoT?

IoT refers to a network of devices that communicate autonomously over that network. They gather data using sensors and route it to other parts of the network without human intervention.

Examples of IoT devices include the following:

IoMT devices are a type of IoT technology that enables medical devices to communicate autonomously over a network. Patient data is collected and transmitted to healthcare providers across IoMT networks, with limited or no direction from the patient or medical professional.

What is the future of IoMT?

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption and use of telehealth and related technologies and practices, including the use of IoMT devices. This increased adoption was, in part, due to in‑person care posing an increased risk of infection and lockdowns that limited clinic access. Telehealth and IoMT devices bridged the gap, providing a way for individuals to maintain their health during the pandemic. Since then, the number of connected medical devices continues to grow.

As IoT technology advances, providers will integrate those upgrades into IoMT devices and networks. For example, sensor technology is expected to advance to provide more and better real-time data. At the same time, as AI and machine learning technologies improve, AI-enabled data analytics and machine learning will likely improve predictive healthcare.

One large concern about the use of AI is its lack of clarity in how it makes certain decisions, which is especially important in areas where an individual's health is in question. As responsible AI and explainable AI systems continue to improve, it will likewise be important for their adoption in the IoMT field.

IoMT-generated healthcare data will also enable more and better research, creating opportunities for new treatments. IoMT devices also have the potential to simplify medical management, decrease costs and improve data sharing and collaboration among healthcare organizations.

There are numerous IoMT devices available to healthcare professionals. Read the following tips about these devices for healthcare IT departments.

17 Jul 2025

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