Applications of Wireless Sensor Networks in Healthcare

Abstract

Health is the key capability humans require to perceive, feel, and act effectively, and as such, it represents a primary element in the development of the individual and the environment humans belong to. It is necessary to provide adequate ways and means to ensure the appropriate healthcare delivery based on parameter monitoring and directly providing medical assistance. Wireless sensor networks (WSNs), commonly known as the internet of things (IoT), enable a global approach to the healthcare system infrastructure development. This leads to an e-health system that, in real time, supplies a valuable set of information relevant to all of the stakeholders regardless of their current location. Economic systems in this area usually do not meet the general patient needs, and those that do are usually economically unacceptable due to the high operational and development costs. This chapter shows how recent advances in wireless networks and electronics have led to the emergence of WSNs in healthcare.