IoT-Based System for Alarm Monitoring Medical Devices in Honduras Public Hospitals

Abstract

In the public hospital environment, the lack of centralized alarm systems for vital signs monitors causes deficiencies in the quality of patient monitoring, often putting their safety at risk. Bad management and control of alarms is one of the biggest problems regarding patient monitoring in public hospitals in the country. Mainly, there is no hospital infrastructure that is adequate for the implementation of these centralized systems. The objective of this research is based on the design of a system using IoT to adapt the device to vital signs monitors and, in this way, detect variations in the patient's vital sign parameters. Subsequently send a notification of the detected alarm to the medical staff. It began with an evaluation of the alarm response processes in a public hospital, proposing improvements to cover the main points of the problem. Raspberry Pi was used as the basis of the IoT system and multiple technical tests were carried out for its correct operation. With the proposed architecture of the system, better ideas were obtained to implement for a centralized monitoring system that includes the use of an intelligent device adapted to each vital signs monitor. Through the investigation, results were obtained about the lack of these systems in all public hospitals.