From wearable monitors that alert doctors in real time to remote patient monitoring that allows chronically ill patients to stay at home, IoT is enabling a smarter, faster, and more efficient healthcare ecosystem. According to Precedence Research, the global IoT sensors market is projected to reach USD 422.13 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 36.84% from 2025 to 2034. Healthcare is one of the industries driving this growth.
This article explores what IoT in healthcare means, its key applications, benefits, challenges, and what the future holds. Real-world examples from Com4 customers such as Dignio and MeThings highlight how IoT connectivity is already improving healthcare delivery today.
Table of contents
What is IoT in healthcare?
Why IoT matters in healthcare
Key applications of IoT in healthcare
Benefits of IoT in healthcare
Challenges in IoT adoption in healthcare
IoT safety in healthcare: securing data and devices
The future of IoT in healthcare
What is IoT in healthcare?
IoT in healthcare refers to the ecosystem of connected medical devices, sensors, and digital platforms that collect, transmit, and analyze health-related data. Examples include wearable monitors, connected pill dispensers, hospital diagnostic machines, and mobile health applications.
Unlike traditional healthcare systems, IoT-enabled devices work continuously, transmitting live data to doctors, caregivers, or automated systems without requiring manual input. This enables remote patient monitoring, automated hospital workflows, and data-driven medical decision-making.
For IoT devices to work seamlessly, reliable and secure connectivity is essential. Com4 IoT SIM cards and eSIM solutions provide always-on connections across multiple networks, ensuring medical devices stay online wherever patients are located.
Why IoT matters in healthcare
IoT is revolutionizing healthcare because it bridges the gap between patients, providers, and technology.
For doctors, IoT provides instant access to accurate patient data, enabling better diagnoses and treatment decisions. For patients, it enables continuous monitoring, early intervention, and proactive care without constant hospital visits. For hospitals, IoT optimizes operations, reduces costs, and improves patient flow.
Ultimately, IoT creates a healthcare system that is more personalized, efficient, and proactive.
Key applications of IoT in healthcare
Remote patient monitoring
Remote monitoring devices such as glucose meters, pulse oximeters, and blood pressure monitors allow patients to share daily readings with doctors in real time.
Norwegian company Dignio uses Com4 IoT connectivity to power its remote care platform. Patients with chronic conditions are equipped with connected devices that automatically send data on vital signs like blood pressure and oxygen levels. This continuous monitoring enables healthcare staff to intervene early, significantly reducing the number of hospital admissions.
In Alaska, RPM solutions prevented the transport of 17 critically ill patients to hospitals, saving around USD 20,000 per patient. Studies also show that for congestive heart failure patients, RPM reduced 30-day readmission rates to 6%, compared to the US national average of 23%.
Smart hospitals
Hospitals are evolving into connected ecosystems where IoT ensures patient safety and operational efficiency. Smart beds can detect movement and prevent bedsores, RFID tagging ensures equipment is never misplaced, and environmental sensors guarantee compliance with strict standards on air quality and humidity.
Norwegian MedTech company MedThings leverages Com4 IoT SIMs to connect smart hospital devices. These solutions enable continuous tracking of equipment performance, reducing downtime and ensuring compliance with safety standards.
Wearable health devices
Wearables such as ECG monitors, fitness trackers, and smart clothing are now integral to personal healthcare. They monitor vital parameters, alert users and doctors of abnormalities, and empower patients to take control of their health.
The wearable medical devices market is projected to reach USD 168.2 billion by 2030, highlighting the rising demand for preventive healthcare solutions.
By offering multi-network SIMs and eSIM technology, Com4 ensures that wearables remain connected globally, enabling medtech companies like MeThings to guarantee seamless functionality across different environments.
Medication management
IoT-enabled pill dispensers improve adherence by reminding patients to take medication, logging intake, and alerting caregivers if a dose is missed.
Dignio integrates connected medication dispensers with Com4 SIMs, allowing healthcare professionals to track patient adherence in real time. Missed doses trigger alerts to caregivers, reducing the risk of overdoses or under-treatment and improving long-term outcomes for elderly and multi-prescription patients..jpg?width=1349&height=900&name=d5de6caae33796e503ac9951f5f5019b955bd5f3-6025x4020%20(1).jpg)
Emergency response systems
IoT-enabled ambulances can share patient vitals with emergency departments before arrival, enabling faster and more precise interventions.
Emergency response providers in Northern Europe rely on Com4’s global IoT SIMs to maintain continuous connectivity during cross-border transport. This ensures uninterrupted communication between ambulances and hospitals, even in rural or remote regions.
Benefits of IoT in healthcare
The adoption of IoT in healthcare leads to improved patient outcomes because real-time monitoring enables early detection of complications and faster interventions. It also drives cost efficiency through predictive maintenance, reduced readmissions, and optimized operations. Patients benefit from a better experience, with personalized treatment, improved communication, and fewer unnecessary hospital visits.
For healthcare providers, data-driven insights improve diagnostic accuracy and treatment personalization. And with Com4’s reliable IoT connectivity, devices stay online across locations and geographies—critical for continuous healthcare delivery.
Challenges in IoT adoption in healthcare
Despite its potential, IoT adoption faces challenges. Protecting sensitive patient data while complying with GDPR and HIPAA remains critical. Interoperability issues arise when devices from different vendors do not integrate seamlessly. Healthcare IoT is also highly dependent on secure and reliable networks, including LTE-M, NB-IoT, and 5G. High implementation costs can be a barrier for smaller facilities, and the skills gap in managing IoT ecosystems adds further complexity.
IoT safety in healthcare: securing data and devices
End-to-end encryption protects sensitive medical data, while regulatory compliance with frameworks like HIPAA, GDPR, and ISO27001 ensures proper handling of patient information. Private networks and secure IoT SIMs increase resilience. Integrating IoT solutions with electronic health record (EHR) systems prevents data silos, and regular updates help reduce vulnerability to cyberattacks.
The future of IoT in healthcare
The next decade of IoT in healthcare will be shaped by AI-driven predictive analytics, robotics and automation, and 5G-enabled applications that allow real-time diagnostics and precision medicine.
Com4 will play a central role in enabling this future, delivering secure, scalable, and global IoT connectivity that powers the next generation of connected healthcare systems.
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