Healthc Inform Res.  2017 Jan;23(1):25-34. 10.4258/hir.2017.23.1.25.

Action Research on Development and Application of Internet of Things Services in Hospital

• Park A
• Chang H
• Lee KJ

• KMID: 2368982
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4258/hir.2017.23.1.25

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Services based on the Internet of Things (IoT) technologies have emerged in various business environments. To enhance health service quality and maximize benefits, this study applied an IoT technology based on NFC and iBeacon as an omni-channel service for patient care in hospitals.
METHODS
Application of the IoT technology based on NFC and iBeacon was conducted in a general hospital during August 2015 through June 2016, and the development and evaluation results were aligned to an action research framework. The five phases in the action research included diagnosing, planning action, taking action, evaluating action, and specifying learning phases.
RESULTS
During the first two phases, problems of functional operations in a hospital were diagnosed and eight service models were designed by using iBeacon and NFC to solve the problems. Service models were applied to the hospital by installing beacons, wearable beacons, beacon scanners, and NFC tags during the third phase. During the fourth and fifth phases, the roles and benefits of stakeholders participating in the service models were evaluated, and issues and knowledge of the whole application process were derived and summarized from technological, economic, social and legal perspectives, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
From an action research perspective, IoT-based healthcare services were developed and verified. IoT-based services enable the hospital to acquire lifelog data for precision medicine and ultimately be able to go one step closer to precision medical care. The derived service models could provide patients more enhanced healthcare services and improve the work efficiency and effectiveness of the hospital.

Keyword

Internet; Wireless Technology; Hospital Communication Systems; Telemedicine; Computer Communication Networks

MeSH Terms

Commerce
Computer Communication Networks
Delivery of Health Care
Health Services
Health Services Research*
Hospital Communication Systems
Hospitals, General
Humans
Internet*
Learning
Patient Care
Precision Medicine
Telemedicine
Wireless Technology

Figure

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  Figure 1 Action study framework.

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  Figure 2 User-reader service system.

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  Figure 3 User-tag service system.

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  Figure 4 User interface of application for patients.

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  Figure 5 User interface of application and web for medical team.

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  Figure 6 Installation of hardwares. (A) Outdoor beacon, (B) indoor beacon, (C) beacon scanner, and (D) NFC tag and wearable beacon.

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