M2M solutions in healthcare

M2M solutions applied in healthcare can save both time and money, as well as improve patients’ overall quality of life. Moreover, in a rapidly digitalizing world, healthcare providers everywhere need to evolve to meet new demands.

The healthcare challenges of our time
When it comes to human lives, every second counts. That’s why advances in technology and in the M2M sector could well have their greatest impact in the healthcare industry – compared to other verticals. Improving patients’ overall quality of life and care with limited resources is one of the major challenges that hospitals and doctors are increasingly facing.
In today’s world, doctors are expected to provide improved care despite having to cut costs. Luckily, there are efficient solutions that can help nurses and doctors care even better for their patients. One of the most important aspects of patient care is the constant supervision of the patient’s current state of health and whereabouts – a task that can take up a lot of the medical staff’s time.

M2M solutions – “healthy” and efficient for the hospitals
Thanks to intelligent M2M solutions, medical improvements are becoming easier to achieve. Connecting devices to electronic health record (EHR) systems, for example, has reduced the time it takes to enter vital signs from up to 10 minutes to less than one minute per patient. Advanced bed and fall monitors can watch patient movements and alert staff as soon as there is a problem.
Different forms of tracking solutions allow constant patient checks – either at the hospital or at home, where patients can still be monitored after they have left the hospital. These tracking solutions mean that medical staff don’t have to check on their patients in person every time, but can continuously monitor them using a tablet, hence reducing their workload and making time for more patients.
Furthermore, tracking solutions lead to increased security for patients due to the fact that doctors are immediately informed as soon as something happens, even when they are at home. So-called Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) solutions enable patients and elderly people to lead self-determined lives and provide peace of mind to their relatives.

Best practices: Polaris Medical saving lives with M2M solutions
Polaris Medical is a private hospital in Romania that offers complex healthcare services. With a team of 150 medical doctors, nurses, and auxiliary staff, the hospital offers complete rehabilitation services including neurological, cardiovascular, psychological, and palliative care, as well as applying holistic therapeutic treatments adapted to each patient’s needs.
The patient’s well-being is the main concern at Polaris Medical, and its staff needs to be able to intervene fast in the case of an emergency. Therefore, it’s important that patients’ data is always accessible, and fast. Which communication solutions help them on their day to day activity?  A fast and reliable Internet connection, secure data transmission, and GPS tracking of patients.
M2M solution provided by Telekom Romania allows medical staff to locate patients inside the hospital around the clock via tracking bracelets. A panic button is incorporated in the bracelets for emergencies. Pushing the button lets the staff know that a problem has arisen. They can then monitor the patient’s whereabouts and intervene swiftly.
Thanks to this solution, the patients of Polaris Medical can move freely around the hospital during their stay, take a walk in the garden, visit community rooms – they no longer have to be permanently bedridden. At the same time, they can feel completely safe and confident that they will be taken care of immediately if something happens.

This real-time solution was entirely implemented by Telekom Romania, which is the only provider in the country offering professional equipment and expert consultancy.  The single-network solution is also more cost-effective to operate and run compared to several networks being linked together. Additional services include fixed and mobile telephony as well as PBX equipment (a telephone system within an enterprise that switches calls between enterprise users on local lines while allowing all users to share a certain number of external phone lines), a Wi-Fi connection with separate connectivity for patients and medical staff.