By Ellie Gabel, Associate Editor, Revolutionized
LinkedIn: Elle Rose
LinkedIn: Revolutionized
Internet of Things (IoT) solutions have seen rapid growth across the health care industry. Patient-monitoring wearables may be the most prominent example of this technological shift, but connected technologies also have vast potential in the operating room.
Surgical environments require efficiency, precision and for everything and everyone to act as a cohesive unit. These demands directly align with what IoT offers. At the same time, these systems can only achieve their full potential with a careful, security-minded approach.
Benefits of IoT in Surgery
Effective Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) rollout begins with recognizing its ideal use cases. In surgery, the greatest advantage is the ability to interact with electronic devices remotely. Such functionality lays the groundwork for remote robotic surgery.
Robotic-assisted operations accounted for over 15% of all general surgeries in 2023 and could double in the next five years. Being able to control a surgical robot with high precision from virtually anywhere means top surgeons could help a wider patient base. Travel, time and logistics would no longer be obstacles to surgical access.
Similarly, IoMT platforms could provide real-time surgical data to outside stakeholders, be they patients’ families or other doctors. This level of insight can assuage the concerns of patients’ loved ones and facilitate more efficient health data sharing.
A connected surgical environment would also make finding and responding to important health information easier. Surgeons could pull up patient electronic health records (EHRs) immediately, and some automated tools could adjust automatically. This real-time access and potential for automation could minimize medical errors — part of the fourth most common cause of death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Securing Connected Operating Rooms
As more surgical centers recognize these benefits, it could lead to an influx of IoMT adoption. However, with 112.29 million IoT attacks in 2022 alone, cybersecurity improvements must be part of the conversation.
IoT solutions are notoriously difficult to secure, largely due to poor built-in protections and the likelihood of attackers using them as gateways to other devices and data. Given the sensitivity of EHRs and other medical information, operating rooms must establish robust security as they embrace IoMT.
Sourcing IoMT devices with stronger built-in protections like data encryption and multi-factor authentication is also crucial. Of course, surgical professionals must also use these features and change default passwords. Consequently, cybersecurity training for all staff is essential.
A worrying 99% of health care organizations use systems with known and exploited vulnerabilities. As such, all surgical IoMT endpoints must enable automatic updates to patch known risks as soon as possible. Features like update authentication and secure boot mechanisms are also ideal, as these address attacks using malicious updates.
Finally, operating rooms must use automated network monitoring software to monitor IoMT systems for suspicious activity. Regular penetration testing can provide similar help by highlighting risks before attackers capitalize on them.
Connectivity Is the Future of Surgery, But Concerns Remain
A fully connected operating room can benefit patients and medical professionals tremendously. However, IoT security risks are too prominent to ignore. Surgical centers must address these concerns before implementing IoMT faster than they can secure it.
When interconnected surgical environments are secure, they can achieve their highest potential. Although cybersecurity methods may initially seem like another complication, they are essential in maintaining the most efficient and precise operating rooms.