Medical IoT for quadruple aim of care—let’s embrace it

The quadruple aim of care is a construct to improve health outcomes, reduce costs, enhance patient experience, and address health equity (see Exhibit 1). All attributes of the original triple aim of care in the US have been heading in the wrong direction. The US healthcare system faces critical challenges, such as spending nearly triple the OECD average and rising sharply, impacting low-income groups hardest and adversely affecting health outcomes. Life expectancy has fallen to levels last seen in 1996, placing the US behind other developed countries. Additionally, 60% of Americans live with chronic conditions such as diabetes and obesity.

Despite high spending, customer satisfaction ratings for Medicaid, CHIP, and Medicare have been stagnant, suggesting a decline in customer experience. Leveraging emerging technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT) is crucial for addressing these pressing issues and enhancing the quadruple aim of care.

As we transition into a new era of smart and connected healthcare, medical IoT such as ultrasound, Wi-Fi-enabled inhalers, and continuous glucose monitoring devices offer unprecedented support to achieving the quadruple aim of care. Medical IoT devices and applications are specifically designed for healthcare needs. These are often subject to regulatory approval, such as by the FDA in the US. Achieving the quadruple aim is no longer a choice—it’s a necessity—and medical IoT is critical.

Exhibit 1: The quadruple aim of care is a combination of integrating health, financial, experiential, and equity goals

Source: HFS Research, 2024

Deploy medical IoT to drive superior health outcomes

We segmented different IoT devices according to their usage and further categorized them based on type. We then analyzed how various medical IoT devices impact the quadruple aim of care (see Exhibit 2). IoT devices can enhance health outcomes by analyzing the vast data medical IoT devices generate. Analyzing this data can reveal patterns and predict potential health issues. Leveraging IoT enables healthcare providers to enhance accuracy and improve patient outcomes. Examples of medical IoT devices that help to improve health outcomes include:

• Fitness and wellness trackers such as the Garmin Venu 2 monitor health metrics, including sleep quality, stress levels, and body battery energy. They promote a healthier lifestyle and help users identify potential health risks early through accessible, continuous tracking.
• Imaging devices such as the GE SIGNA Architect MRI machine, Siemens SOMATOM Force CT scanner, and Philips Affiniti ultrasound system can enhance diagnostic precision for various conditions, including tumors and cardiovascular diseases, leading to more effective and timely treatments.
• Surgical instruments such as the da Vinci Surgical System, Mazor X Stealth Edition robotic guidance platform , and LENSAR Laser System can improve surgical outcomes through enhanced precision, reduced recovery times, and improved patient comfort.

Exhibit 2: Medical IoT devices in various categories significantly improve the quadruple aim by enhancing accuracy, reducing recovery time, and ensuring continuous patient monitoring

Source: HFS Research, 2024

Use medical IoT to bridge health equity gaps

Medical IoT technologies play a significant role in supporting health equity, the fourth component of the quadruple aim. This involves narrowing the gap for underserved populations (see Exhibit 2). CMS defines health equity as “the attainment of the highest level of health for all people,” which ensures that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to achieve optimal health, regardless of race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, geography, preferred language, or other factors that affect access to care and health outcomes.

Medical IoT devices allow patients in rural or economically disadvantaged areas to consult remotely to provide necessary interventions. IoT technologies help close the gap between different population groups, contributing to health equity. This approach ensures that healthcare is inclusive, offering care to all, regardless of socioeconomic status, geography, or other barriers.

Additional examples of how medical IoT helps address health equities include:

• Medical IoT imaging devices/ lab equipment and surgical equipment can provide quality diagnostics in community health settings, reducing the need for patients to travel long distances for advanced medical imaging, which promotes health equity. This advancement mitigates the necessity for patients, particularly those from marginalized or low-income backgrounds, to have to wait for or forego treatment due to travel requirements. By making crucial diagnostic and treatment options more accessible, this strategy significantly contributes to promoting healthcare equity.
• Mobile health clinics carrying different equipment (see Exhibit 2) can provide essential healthcare services directly to communities in remote or underserved areas. This approach brings necessary diagnostics and treatments closer to patients.
• Affordable FDA-approved wearable devices can track basic health metrics, enabling people to monitor their health and engage in preventive care. These affordable wearables empower individuals from low-income backgrounds to engage in preventive care and self-monitoring, reducing their reliance on costly emergency services.
• Vital sign monitors such as Masimo Rad-97 Pulse CO-Oximeter and Welch Allyn Connex Vital Signs Monitor provide continuous monitoring for critical care patients, including those in rural or underserved areas where constant in-person monitoring by healthcare professionals may not be feasible. These devices help extend high-quality monitoring capabilities outside traditional hospital settings, reducing geographic and economic barriers to care.

Lower healthcare costs with medical IoT

Analyzing vitals using diagnostic equipment can aid in early diagnosis and provide efficient treatment using therapeutic devices (see Exhibit 2). This can help reduce the long-term costs of chronic diseases and hospital stays. Additionally, IoT devices can assist in reducing unnecessary procedures and streamlining treatment plans. Some examples include:

• Imaging devices such as the GE SIGNA Architect MRI machine, Siemens SOMATOM Force CT scanner, and Philips Affiniti ultrasound system can enhance diagnostic precision and reduce the time spent in surgery and the duration of hospital stays, lowering overall healthcare costs.
• Continuous monitoring of vital signs prevents critical incidents and reduces the need for emergency interventions, decreasing the cost associated with urgent care and hospital admissions.
• Cardiac devices such as the Medtronic Micra transcatheter pacing system, Abbott Gallant ICD, and Boston Scientific S-ICD system can lower healthcare costs by reducing the frequency and severity of emergencies that require expensive interventions, ultimately decreasing long-term healthcare expenses.

Enhance patient experience with medical IoT

Medical IoT devices help make healthcare more personalized, accessible, and efficient. Different IoT devices, such as fitness and wellness trackers and advanced wearables, help with continuous health monitoring while reducing the risk of errors (see Exhibit 2). These wearables enable patients to manage their health from home, reducing the need for hospital visits. Some examples include:

• Imaging devices help speed up diagnosis and improve treatment planning. Patients benefit from quicker and more accurate diagnostic processes, enhancing their experience.
• Continuous monitoring of vital signs enhances patient safety, ensuring that any changes in the patient’s condition are detected and addressed.
• Surgical instruments enable minimally invasive surgeries that reduce recovery times and improve surgical outcomes. For patients, this means less pain, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery, leading to a better healthcare experience.

The Bottom Line: Providers must incorporate medical IoT into their care strategies to positively address the quadruple aim of care.

Healthcare providers must comprehensively assess their digital capabilities and identify areas where IoT can fill the gaps. Using IoT devices can aid in advancing toward the four primary goals of care. By aligning their strategy and leveraging IoT devices to address these gaps, providers can improve health outcomes, reduce costs, enhance patient experience, and ensure health equity.