IoT in healthcare: a review of services, applications, key technologies, security concerns, and emerging trends

The healthcare industry is experiencing a transformative impact from the Internet of Things (IoT) revolution, characterized by technological advancements, enhanced economic efficiency, and positive social implications. Through the seamless connection of healthcare providers, patients and medical devices, healthcare services are delivered with improved effectiveness and precision. This transformation empowers individuals to actively engage in their own healthcare management and has the potential to revolutionize medical treatments and preventive care, ultimately improving overall wellbeing on a global scale. In this context, this article provides a comprehensive literature review focused on IoT-based healthcare technologies. It systematically evaluates the existing research in a chronological manner, emphasizing the advancements and trends in the field. The study explores the evolution of IoT healthcare over time and assesses the healthcare services, applications, and industry trends associated with IoT-based healthcare solutions. Furthermore, the paper thoroughly analyzes the specific IoT security and privacy features required for smart healthcare, including security requirements, privacy and security, attack taxonomies, and threat models from a healthcare perspective. Additionally, the paper explores how innovative technologies like cloud computing, Blockchain, big data, ambient intelligence, and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) can be leveraged in the smart healthcare environment. Finally, we discuss the challenges and open issues associated with IoT-based healthcare systems and provide avenues for future research based on the identified gaps.