In the mid-1970s, those experiencing health issues or requiring continuous monitoring had limited options. They would typically have to visit their doctor’s office regularly to help address their medical needs, whether it was a specific condition or a general wellness check-up. This approach, however, required the individual to schedule appointments and physically go in for a visit.
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While this traditional scenario still exists today, patients now also have additional avenues to connect with their doctors or other medical professionals for treatment.
Technological advancements, coupled with the global pandemic’s quarantine measures, have spurred the emergence of in-home telehealth and remote patient care as viable alternatives to receiving medical attention in conventional settings.
Similar to the miniaturization of medical devices, custom health monitoring sensors are bringing new levels of versatility and functionality to medical equipment, making it possible to provide care to patients wherever they are.
Three ways health monitoring sensors bring care to the patient
Due to complexity or safety concerns, certain aspects of treatment can only take place within a doctor’s office. For example, undergoing an MRI or major surgery typically requires a medical setting.
Nevertheless, numerous aspects of patient care have successfully transitioned beyond healthcare facilities, leading to enhanced patient outcomes.
The integration of customized sensor technology has facilitated the bridging of gaps between traditional medical settings and patients’ homes, potentially expanding the scope of care outside of the conventional medical environment. These developments include:
- Telehealth visits
- Wearable monitoring devices
- Field treatment
1. Telehealth visits
A viable and increasingly popular alternative to in-office appointments, telehealth connects medical professionals with patients swiftly and securely, regardless of their location. This innovative approach allows patients to interact with healthcare providers comfortably from the convenience of their couch.
Utilizing wearable medical devices equipped with integrated sensor technology ensures minimal loss of information during remote visits.
For instance, smart home medical devices employing Bluetooth or ANT+ technology quickly and accurately (and securely) transmit health data captured by sensors, such as heart rate, oxygen saturation levels, respiration rates, temperature, and more.
The data collected through these devices is no different from what would have been obtained during an in-person visit. Apart from a brief delay during data transmission, there is nothing lost from face-to-face visits.
An aside on telehealth
While telehealth visits offer enhanced convenience and foster regular interaction between medical professionals and their patients, both healthcare providers and individuals receiving treatment also experience a variety of additional benefits, including:
- Reduced hospitalizations
- Increased access to care for disabled or elderly patients
- Reduced travel and wait times
- Less stress on medical facilities, such as ERs
- Reduced costs (both in terms of money spent on preventative visits as well as fewer trips to the ER)
- Improved patient outcomes
2. Wearable technology in healthcare
Whether one is at the gym or strolling through a bustling park, it is hard not to notice the multitude of individuals donning fitness trackers or smartwatches on their wrists, rivaling the number of people with smartphones in their hands.
This fusion of technology and fitness has significantly simplified the process of monitoring personal fitness metrics around the clock for the general population. Checking various parameters such as daily step count, heart rate, or calories burned requires minimal effort. This also extends to medical treatment beyond traditional healthcare facilities.
Wearable technology in health care allows medical professionals to observe patients over long periods without interrupting their lives. The data obtained through wearable devices can often be more invaluable than what can be gathered during an in-office visit.
The patient can lead their life uninterrupted as their intelligent medical devices continuously monitor and log data, a capability that is not achievable during a conventional examination.
By equipping OEM medical devices with customized integrated sensor technology, healthcare providers can now gather and analyze real-time data from their patients, enabling them to monitor changes that were previously unattainable in a home environment.
Any sudden fluctuation or hazardous increase in specific vital signs can activate an alert, prompting the provider to investigate or notify first responders.
3. Field treatment
Sensor technology facilitates enhanced medical care irrespective of the location, significantly improving patient outcomes, particularly in ambulance and field settings.
One key application of wearables in ambulances involves vital monitoring devices. Similar to in-home telehealth, these devices can be worn by patients and remotely monitored by paramedics or medical professionals, including hospital staff.
For instance, if a patient’s heart rate or oxygen saturation levels reach dangerously low levels, immediate alerts can be sent to paramedics, enabling prompt action.
Real-time monitoring of this nature allows paramedics to identify potential issues before they escalate into more severe emergencies, enabling more effective pre-hospital care. Moreover, wearable sensors are employed to detect physical trauma in patients before they arrive at the hospital.
Ambulances can be equipped with motion sensors that measure body movement and gait analysis systems so that medical personnel can more accurately assess a patient’s physical condition before arrival at a hospital.
Healthcare sensor innovations for new mobility
To leverage the full potential of mobile sensor technology in healthcare, working with an OEM sensor manufacturer is vital.
These manufacturers possess the necessary experience and expertise to develop tailor-made sensors for specific medical applications, addressing the precise requirements of clinicians and patients. Their solutions are reliable, effective, and cost-effective for OEM medical products.
For instance, consider a smart blood pressure monitor utilized in remote patient monitoring. Unlike its predecessors, this device takes regular measurements throughout the day, increasing its usage.
By partnering with an OEM medical sensor manufacturer, customization of the sensors to meet specific needs, such as increased durability or measurements over a smaller body area, can be achieved.
A medical sensor manufacturer should work alongside its clientele to meet all the demands their OEM medical devices face during their useful life.
Patient care advances: Always in motion
The advent of remote care and telehealth has revolutionized patient care. Custom health monitoring sensors are pivotal in this shift as they enable data collection without in-person visits.
OEM medical sensor companies provide tailored solutions that cater to the precise requirements of clinicians and patients, allowing healthcare providers to deliver care regardless of location in many cases.
About Amphenol Advanced Sensors
Amphenol Advanced Sensors, with its portfolio of industry-leading brands - Thermometrics, NovaSensor, Telaire, Protimeter and Kaye - is an innovator in advanced sensing technologies and innovative embedded measurement solutions customized for regulatory and applications, value by providing critical information for real-time decisions.
We offer domain expertise, rapid customization, world-class manufacturing capability and lasting customer relationships deliver the greatest value in cost of ownership to their customers.
Amphenol Advanced Sensors is a member of the USA-based Amphenol Corporation. With our own global presence we offer our customers exceptional technical support and service in the areas of development, production and distribution.
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