Connected Care platforms are cloud-based software platforms that are used to link, manage, and exchange information with wireless medical devices. Depending on the context, such connected platforms may be called:
- Connected care platforms
- Connected care systems
- Connected care solutions
Healthcare providers can build their own connected platforms using internal teams and infrastructure or purchase access to one through a connected platform-as-a-service (PaaS) product.
A PaaS provides the necessary server space, security protocols, and other essentials that manufacturers and healthcare organizations need to develop their own proprietary applications or run demanding third-party applications without any on-site hardware. Some PaaS solutions also come with pre-made applications for specific purposes, such as remote patient monitoring or patient adherence programs.
Functions of Connected Health Platforms
Together with connected healthcare devices and app-based digital interfaces, connected health platforms make up the core of the digital healthcare ecosystem.
Healthcare providers can use healthcare platforms to:
- Collect accurate real-time health data from their patients’ connected devices.
- Store and manage that data in a secure application that conforms to industry-specific regulations.
- Analyze patient data with embedded tools, including AI-guided algorithms that can highlight areas where data deviates from the expected norms.
Benefits of Connected Health Platforms
- Easy deployment of connected medical devices. Connected medical device programs bring many benefits for both healthcare providers and their patients, but they may also create logistical issues within organizations. A connected health platform gives healthcare providers a simple all-in-one solution for implementing connected care. They can use this cloud-based software to track their fleet of devices, perform remote updates and maintain cybersecurity procedures, manage the data the devices generate, and perform any other functions needed to administer this type of care.
- Accurate, consistent health data. Patient health data recorded using manual means often includes many errors that may affect the patient's treatment in unpredictable ways. Connected health platforms automatically aggregate digitally measured health data with no potential for user error at the point of collection.
- Continual monitoring of patients’ health status. Vulnerable patients often experience a clear downturn in vital signs before a major health relapse. Connected care platforms give healthcare providers the tools needed to track health data in real time and identify troubling trends that may indicate that a patient is in need of medical intervention. Some can even be programmed to issue alerts to caregivers when the data indicates that emergency care may be needed.
- Sophisticated insights into patient health patterns. Each patient is different, and their individual physiology has significant implications for the effectiveness and reliability of specific courses of treatment. Connected health platforms allow healthcare providers to observe the impact of treatment on each patient’s health and personalize their approach as necessary to ensure the best long-term outcomes for that patient.
- Better integration between systems. Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Electronic Medical Records (EMRs), and other electronic healthcare solutions are becoming increasingly common in clinical and research settings. Healthcare providers can use connected health solutions to integrate all applicable solutions into a single comprehensive health profile for each patient, enabling them to deliver truly holistic connected care health services.
