The role of Internet of Things, Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, and Big Data Technologies in Healthcare to Prevent the Spread of the COVID-19

Abstract

The spread of new coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has led to a major crisis in the economic and health sector, which required prompt response by medical personnel, health organizations, scientists, as well as the government sector. Globally, health care institutions have been affected greatly and unexpectedly by this COVID-19 pandemic put the current systems of healthcare under tremendous pressures, and at their maximum capabilities and resources in order to provide medical services to those infected. In this global health emergency situation and given the current limited healthcare resources, the necessity of finding quick and innovative solutions has been required. As a result, using new technologies to struggle COVID-19 and meeting the pandemic's specified requirements, such as detecting, monitoring, diagnosing, screening, surveillance, tracking, and raising awareness, has become unavoidable. The focus of this research is to understand how the healthcare system use these new technologies to fight against the pandemic. This paper provides a guideline to practitioners on the benefits and application areas of Artificial Intelligence, Internet of things, Blockchain, and Big data technologies in the healthcare industry to face the crisis caused by this pandemic. A detailed analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for the thorough implementation of these technologies has been conducted. Also, the paper addresses the obstacles to adopt these technologies in the healthcare systems and make some recommendations for future studies. The paper assists researchers, experts, and readers in recognizing how the use of technology is aiding in the management of the coronavirus infection in a synergistic manner, as well as encourage the need for these techniques in existing and potential times of emergency