The Internet of Things in Healthcare Services Transformation: Enhancing Through Applications, Data Security, Challenges and Future Innovations

The Internet of Things (IoT) makes it possible to bear and monitor objects remotely using communication devices over networks. Many patients encountered a lot of difficulties in medical facilities due to high chances of errors in medical treatments, which are caused by the lack of access to critical patient records, which are the pillars of medical diagnosis. The patient's records are typically stored in electronic medical records or paper-based records, making the retrieval of patient records challenging. Patients' interactions with physicians were previously limited to appointments, teleconferences, and text messages. Healthcare facilities lacked the means to track patients' health status and make timely recommendations. Smart devices, sensors, and connected devices continue to dynamically transform healthcare operations, supported by telemedicine and autonomous home support services for emergencies among the elderly and disabled, which are increasingly available. These methods are utilised to minimise physical contact, most especially in situations where the risk of viral contamination is high, such as care homes and infectious disease wards within hospitals, particularly during epidemics or pandemics. Through this research, we were able to provide significant insights into how IoT devices revolutionised the healthcare domain operational processes, identify some common challenges to optimise and protect patients' data and privacy across all platforms, also highlighted the innovative technologies mostly lightweight devices in tracking and monitoring health status of patients.