Promoting Better Healthcare for Patients in Critical Condition

Abstract

The high cost of healthcare services, the aging population and the increase of chronic disease is becoming a global concern. Several studies have indicated the need to minimize the process of hospitalization and the high cost of patient care. A promising trend in healthcare is to move the routines of medical checks from a hospital to the patient's home. Moreover, recent advances in microelectronics have boosted the advent of a revolutionary model involving systems and communication technology. This new paradigm, the Internet of Things (IoT), has a broad applicability in several areas, including healthcare. Based on this context, this chapter aims to describe a computer platform based on IoT for the remote monitoring of patients in critical condition. Furthermore, it is planned to approach the current advances and challenges of conceiving and developing a set of technology-centric, targeting issues relevant to underdeveloped countries, particularly in regards to Brazil's health infrastructure.