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Technically data analytics are not IoMT devices themselves, but they are tied into many IoMT systems. There are two types of technology that data analytics can rely on—machine learning and artificial intelligence. Think of machine learning as a stepping stone to artificial intelligence. Quite often machine learning can be used to sense trends more quickly than a human and, more often than not, reasonably accurately. With exceptions, machine learning is typically being used in most cases.

What is important about data analytics is how it is rapidly changing the playing field in medicine. The stream of data from IoMT devices is helping the medical community to identify not only problems but solutions at a faster pace than ever before. From a scientific perspective, it allows the medical community to use more fact-based cases to study, which will only improve the overall process.

Data analytics is also valuable from a population perspective. If a medication is causing problems in a population or for a particular pharmacy, data analytics is probably the best place to make that discovery. Another example is a medicine that may not be as effective for a particular case of a specific disease. This makes diverse populations like NYC especially attractive because we have a range of ethnic diversities, which may provide more insights related to diseases than focusing on a single demographic.

For many patients, especially the elderly, medication management is extremely important. It helps patients take the right amount of medication at the right time. And yes, there can be a connected component to this. Other devices, such as ingestibles, can actually monitor if the patient is really taking the medication or not.

The term stationary medical devices refers to the range of medical equipment that stays in the hospital setting. This can include everything from MRI systems to X-ray machines. Even beds are connected to provide additional information related to the status of a patient.

Asset management refers to the tracking and monitoring of high-value devices within hospitals. While this can be related to IoMT devices, it can also be related to tracking other valuable equipment such as wheelchairs.

Obviously, a tremendous number of IoMT devices have proliferated over the last few years. All of them bring value to hospitals and other organizations or they would not be there. In general, the IoMT is greatly reducing the costs of medical care today and allowing people to live better, more fulfilling lives. What is not always recognized are the risks that these modern technologies bring. For that, it is helpful to look at the history of IoMT and put IoMT technologies in context.