Edge computing deploys data analytics applications and computing resources around the edges of the network, where much of the most valuable data is created. This significantly reduces latency and mitigates many security and compliance risks. In a healthcare setting, edge computing enables real-time medical insights and interventions while keeping HIPAA-regulated data within the local security perimeter. This blog describes six potential edge computing use cases in healthcare that take advantage of the speed and security of an edge computing architecture.
6 Edge computing use cases in healthcare
Edge computing use cases for EMS
Mobile emergency medical services (EMS) teams need to make split-second decisions regarding patient health without the benefit of a doctorate and, often, with spotty Internet connections preventing access to online drug interaction guides and other tools. Installing edge computing resources on cellular edge routers gives EMS units real-time health analysis capabilities as well as a reliable connection for research and communications. Potential use cases include:
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Edge computing use cases in hospitals & clinics
Hospitals and clinics use IoT devices to monitor vitals, dispense medications, perform diagnostic tests, and much more. Sending all this data to the cloud or data center takes time, delaying test results or preventing early intervention in a health crisis, especially in rural locations with slow or spotty Internet access. Deploying applications and computing resources on the same local network enables faster analysis and real-time alerts. Potential use cases include:
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Edge computing use cases for wearable medical devices
Wearable medical devices give patients and their caregivers greater control over health outcomes. With edge computing, health data analysis software can run directly on the wearable device, providing real-time results even without an Internet connection. Potential use cases include:
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The benefits of edge computing for healthcare
Using edge computing in a healthcare setting as described in the use cases above can help organizations:
- Improve patient care in remote settings, where a lack of infrastructure limits the ability to use cloud-based technology solutions.
- Process and analyze patient health data faster and more reliably, leading to earlier interventions.
- Increase efficiency by assisting understaffed medical teams with diagnostics, patient monitoring, and communications.
- Mitigate security and compliance risks by keeping health data within the local security perimeter.
Edge computing can also help healthcare organizations lower their operational costs at the edge by reducing bandwidth utilization and cloud data storage expenses. Another way to reduce costs is by using consolidated, vendor-neutral solutions to host, connect, and secure edge applications and workloads.
For example, the Nodegrid Gate SR is an integrated branch services router that delivers an entire stack of edge networking, infrastructure management, and computing technologies in a single, streamlined device. Nodegrid’s open, Linux-based OS supports VMs and Docker containers for third-party edge applications, security solutions, and more. Plus, an onboard Nvidia Jetson Nano card is optimized for AI workloads at the edge, significantly reducing the hardware overhead costs of using artificial intelligence at remote healthcare sites. Nodegrid’s flexible, scalable platform adapts to all edge computing use cases in healthcare, future-proofing your edge architecture.
Streamline your edge deployment with Nodegrid
The vendor-neutral Nodegrid platform consolidates an entire edge technology stack into a unified, streamlined solution. Watch a demo to see Nodegrid’s healthcare network solutions in action.